PACHYDERMATA. 193 



the colonists, and a climbing species (H. Arboreus), 

 both of which last inhabit South Africa. Mr. Steed- 

 man says of the common Cape kind, " It is an ex- 

 tremely quick and active little animal, skipping 

 along the shelving ledges of the overhanging cliffs, 

 and darting with incredible swiftness into the holes 

 and crevices of the rocks, by which it frequently 

 eludes the grasp of its pursuers." * 



Passing over some extinct genera, exhibiting sin- 

 gular forms, we come to the genus 



Tapir, the Tapir. 



AMERICAN TAPIR (T. American-its). 



In which the nose is prolonged into a proboscis 

 of some length, but destitute of the varied powers 

 of the Elephant's versatile organ. They are stout 



* Wanderings, vol. i. p. 145. 

 VOL. I. 



