124 THE TAPIE. 



is composed of a clayey kind of slate. This slate 

 clay bears the mark of their teeth. 



D'Azara also reports that the common tapir eats 

 nitrous earth, and says that he has found a great 

 quantity in the stomach of one of these animals. 



Hunters are sure to find the plncliaques on these 

 slate-clay spots a little before sunrise, provided they 

 have not been disturbed, for they are very suspicious 

 animals. They will abandon entirely a place near 

 which the country people have laid snares, with all 

 precaution possible, in which they hope to take 

 them. 



An encounter with them is never dangerous, and 

 we have only heard of three instances in which they 

 have shown any signs of courage. 



A pinchaque pursued by dogs faced round upon 

 them on reaching some water, and as this menacing 

 attitude intimidated the first hunter who presented 

 himself, the tapir ran at him, and threw him head 

 over heels. 



The other instances are reported of two females, 

 when accompanied by their young ones, which they 

 thought to be in danger. They each upset her man. 

 One of these men had taken the liberty of touching 

 the young tapir with his umbrella. 



Once in the water, the pinchaque remains there as 

 long as he fancies that he is pursued* 



