48 



CLASS M A M M A L I A. 



ORDER P A C H Y D E R M A T A. 



supplying a substance at once suitable for a sporting implement and ex- 

 cellent for the purpose. Both these varieties of Rhinoceros attain an 

 enormous size, being the animals next in magnitude to the Elephant. They 

 feed solely on grass, carry much fat, and their flesh is excellent, being 

 preferable to beef. They are of a much milder and more inoffensive dis- 

 position than the Black Rhinoceros, rarely charging their pursuer." 



Mr. Gumming had many close interviews with those animals ; one instance 

 of which he thus records : " In the evening of the 28th I shot an old bull 

 Koodoo. At night I watched die water near my camp with Kleinboy. 

 After a long time had elapsed an enormous old bull Muchocho, or White 

 Rhinoceros, came slowly on, and commenced drinking within fifteen yards 

 of us, and next minute a large herd of zebras and blue wildebeest. It was 

 long before the Muchocho would turn his side; when he did, we fired 

 together, and away he went with zebras and wildbeests concealed in a cloud 

 of dust. Next came an old bull Borele ; we fired together, and he made 

 off, blowing loudly, after charging round and round, seeking some object 

 on which to wreak his vengeance. Next came another Borele', and he got 

 two bullets into his person. The fourth that came was another old bull 

 Muchocho ; he ran forty yards and fell. And fifth came a cow Borele ; 

 she fell dead to the shots. Three other Rhinoceroses came about me, but 

 I was too drowsy to watch any longer, and fell asleep." 



TAPIRUS. The animals forming this genus have some resemblance to the 

 Rhinoceros, at least in the thickness of their hide, which is often from two- 

 thirds to three-fourths of an inch thick ; but in their general form, except 

 in standing higher on the legs, they are more akin to the hog kind, from 

 which, however, they are distinguished by the small size of their cuspid 

 teeth, which do not show like the projecting tusks of the boar ; by the hair 

 in some species forming a sort of mane, which extends from the forehead 

 to the withers ; but principally by the development of the upper lip and 

 muzzle into a kind of short proboscis or trunk. This trunk though unsuited 

 for performing the delicate offices to which the Elephant's trunk is so well 

 adapted, is nevertheless of sufficient length to assist in gathering towards 

 its mouth, as the reaper's arm does the corn towards the sickle, the 

 vegetable food upon which principally it feeds. The Tapirs are shy, 

 retired animals, living in the marshy parts of deep forests, from which they 

 sally out at night, or during the earlier part of the day, in search of food. 

 They feed principally upon fruit, sugar-canes, and on the buds and shoots 

 of trees ; but even when at large they are very voracious and feed indis- 

 criminately upon whatever they meet with. 



The American Tapir (T. Americanus) is about six feet in length from 

 the tip of the trunk to the origin of the tail, and three feet eight inches high 

 to the top of the shoulder. The female is larger than the male, and has 

 often so much white hair as to give her a light roan colour ; and in the 

 Cayenne species she has not any mane, which, however, is distinct enough 

 in the Brazilian. They feed on vegetables, and do great injury to the 

 sugar plantations especially ; several of them sallying forth together, or at 

 least a whole family, as the young follow their dam for a long time. 

 When anticipating danger they herd together, and although usually harm- 

 less, they become so fierce and bold that they seize hold of their enemy 

 with their teeth and pull him down so as to tear him more easily. The 

 inhabitants along the eastern coast of Brazil make use of the Tapir's flesh 

 for food, which very much resembles pork. (Plate 16.) 



Other species the Mountain Tapir and the Malay Tapir. 



HIPPOPOTAMUS River Horse. Of this genus there is known but one 

 living species (H. Amphibius), the size of which is equal, if not superior, 

 to that of the Rhinoceros. The Hippopotamus has a very heavy, unwieldy 

 form, the body being large and round, with the belly nearly touching the 

 ground on account of the shortness of the legs, which are very thick, and 

 terminated by large feet. The mouth is of great width, and the lips 

 thick and broad, especially the upper; they are beset with stiff, short 

 bristles. The teeth of the Hippopotamus are of a very close texture, and 

 extremely white, and on this account are preferred to ivory by the 

 dentistB in the manufacture of artificial teeth. The colour of the Hip]> 

 potamus when it leaves the water is mouse colour, but when the animal 



has become dry, the general colour is brownish black, a little lighter on the 

 belly. 



The Hippopotamus, when undisturbed, is a mild and gentle animal, 

 extremely cautious and shy, and when ashore very timid, but in the water 

 is a dangerous antagonist, more especially at pairing time, when he be- 

 comes very savage, and occasionally destroys passengers who have acci- 

 dentally come upon him in crossing the fords. 



The Hippopotamus is found only in Africa, and probably extended 

 formerly over the whole of that continent, excepting those countries situate 

 to the north-west of Mount Atlas ; it is most common in Southern Africa, 

 but even here is gradually being destroyed as civilization advances north- 

 ward. In Lower Egypt, where it formerly existed, it is not now found, 

 but only in Upper Egypt nor is it very numerous here. 



Sus Smiie. The animals forming this genus are repulsive, from their 

 habitual disposition to wallowing in dirt and filth of all kinds, from their 

 morose and often ferocious temper, and from their unsightly form and gait. 

 Yet swine serve a most important purpose in the general economy of 

 nature, devouring the refuse which other animals will not touch, and con- 

 verting it into useful and valuable articles of food, and other purposes. Not, 

 however, that it feeds indiscriminately, for where it has opportunity, it as 

 readily selects those eatables which are more suitable to it as other animals. 

 The author of the "Pan Suecicus" has in the " Ama-nitates Academics." 

 of Linnseus proved this beyond contradiction, from a careful observation of 

 the different kinds of vegetable food chosen or rejected by different domestic 

 animals ; for he found that, whilst the Ox eats 276 and rejects 218, the 

 Sheep eats 387 and rejects 141, the Goat 449 and rejects 126, and the 

 Horse 262 and rejects 212, the Hog eats 72 and refuses 171 plants. The 

 females are usually very prolific, and litter once or twice a year, bringing 

 from six to ten pigs at a farrow, to which they are strongly attached, and 

 defend with as much courage as the male. 



Swine are arranged into three sections, Hogs, Babyroussas, and Peccaries. 



The first class embraces the Common Hog (S. Scrofa), from which have 

 sprung five varieties: The Hog (S. Domesticus), of which there are 

 several breeds ; the Turkish Swine (S. Tursica) ; the Chinese Pig (S. 

 Simensis) ; the Guinea Hog (S. Porcus) ; and the Single-toed Pig (S. 

 Monongulus). 



The second class includes the genus Barbarussa, and the third the 

 Peccaries. 



The genus PHACOCHCERUS (Gr. ^awc, a wart, and x<"P SWIM), is of 

 the family Setigera. These animals, commonly named Engalla, have great 

 resemblance to swine, but are more thick-set and clumsy in their make. 

 Their snout is extremely broad and flat, and their eyes so close to each 

 other that they can only see directly forwards ; these, together with the 

 wattle-like processes depending from the lower edge of the orbits of one 

 species, give them a very ferocious aspect. Whilst young they are lively 

 and good tempered, but as they arrive at their full age they become savage 

 and prefer solitude. They are natives of Africa and feed on vegetable 

 substances, grubbing up the earth in search of roots like Pigs. 



Of the family Lamnungvia we have two genera : Lipura (Gr. At nrovpitf, 

 wanting a tail), the existence of which is not yet established, and Hyrax 

 (Gr. vc or OT/C, a pig), which seems to connect the clawed with the 

 hoofed animals, the structure of its molar teeth resembling that of the 

 Rhinoceros in miniature, and its plantigrade motion and general form with 

 the Cavice. There appears to be but one species (H. Setosus), the Rock 

 Badger of the Cape; Bristly Daman or Daman Israel. They are about 

 seventeen inches in length, are found in Abyssinia mid Egypt, and are used 

 as food by the Arabs of Mount Libanus and Arabia Petra>a. Mr. Brace 

 is probably correct in his opinion that this is the animal mentioned in 

 Psalm civ. 18, and in Proverbs, xxx. 26, under the name of Conies. 



Of the family NASUTA there is one extinct genus the l'<:l<i'f/ierum 

 (Gr. wa\awv, ancient, and Oripiov, a beast), live species of which are enu- 

 merated by Cuvier, varying from the size of a hare to that of a horse. 



