FAMILY OF SOLTPEDES. 103 



trunk, formed by the prolongation of their nose, which is suscep- 

 tible of being elongated and shortened, but it is not an organ of 

 prehension like that of the elephant. 



1 1 . The American Tapir, Tapir Jlmericanus which is com- 

 mon in humid places in the warm countries of South America, 

 is about the size of a small ass. Its skin, which is nearly bare, 

 is brown. Its flesh is eaten. A second species inhabits the most 

 elevated regions of the Cordilleras of the Andes, and has long, 

 black hair ; it seems to have given rise to a great many fabulous 

 stories among the Indians. A third species is found in the forests 

 of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. The griffin of the ancients, 

 which is generally regarded altogether as a fabulous animal, might 

 have been this latter, a little disfigured by' voyagers, and to which 

 artists have added wings and a tail in architectural style. 



FAMILY OF SOLIPEDES. 



12. The Family of Solipedes comprises all quadrupeds that 

 have but a single toe apparent, and consequently a single hooC 

 This family includes but one genus. 



1 3. The genus HORSE, ECJUHS, comprises the Horse properly 

 so called, the Ass, the Zebra, and several other species. 



14. These animals have six trenchant incisors in each jaw, 

 which, in the earlier years of life, have a hollow or depres- 

 sion on the crown, and on each side of them six molars. The 

 males have besides in the upper jaw, and sometimes in both, two 

 small canines which are almost always wanting in the female. 

 Between these canines and the first molar, there is a vacant space, 

 (called barre in French,) in which rests the bit by the means of 

 which man overcomes and controls this animal. They have a 

 projecting eye with a pupil in the form of a long square, the ear 

 is long and moveable, the nares without muzzle, the tongue 

 very soft, the sense of hearing acute ; their upper lip is very 

 moveable and serves them as an instrument of prehension ; the 

 whole body is covered in a thick coat of hair, with a mane on 

 the neck ; their tail is of moderate size but often adorned with 

 long hair. Horses are essentially herbivorous, though their 

 stomach is simple in form and moderate in size. The Horse is 

 contented with the commonest grass when accustomed to it from 

 an early period. He is fond of dry pasturages ; in the stable he 



11. What is the American Tapir ? 



12. What animals belong to the family of Solipedes ? 



13. What animals are included in the genus Horse ? 



14. What is the dental system of the Horse ? What are the characters of 

 the Horse? Upon what does he feed ? 



