460 



UNGULATES. 



neck, without distinct crest, than the lowland species, from which it is further 

 distinguished by the presence of a long white spot on the chin. 



The two remaining species are Baird's tapir (T. bairdi), ranging from Mexico 

 to Panama, and Dow's tapir (T. dowi), restricted to Guatemala, Nicaragua, and 

 Costa Rica, which constitute a second group of the genus distinguished by the 

 characters of the skull. In all the three species of the first group, as seen in the 

 figure of the skeleton given on p. 454, the nasal cavity is perfectly open in advance 

 of the roofing bones of the skull ; but in those of the second group this cavity is 







THE AMERICAN TAPIR ( T ^ nat. size). 



Habits. 



divided by a vertical partition in the middle line, similar to one shown later on in 

 the figure of the skull of an extinct rhinoceros. 



The following notes on the habits of the American tapirs refer 

 mainly or exclusively to the common species. These tapirs confine 

 themselves exclusively to the thickest parts of the forests, carefully avoiding all 

 open spaces, and forming regular pathways along which they travel in search of 

 food and water. In the forest itself it is generally difficult to come across them, 

 but Humboldt and others state that, when travelling on the rivers by boat, tapirs 

 may be often seen in the early morning, when they come to the bank for the 

 purpose of drinking. Although mainly nocturnal, it is stated that in the densest 

 and darkest portions of the forest tapirs may be encountered abroad during the 



