CENTRAL AMERICA. 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE TAPIR. — THE JAVALINO. — THE PIG SIEGE. THE 



SIEGE RAISED. ANECDOTE. 



The largest of the indigenous natives of 

 the forest in Central America is the tapir, 

 called by the Indians " Dante." 



As most large zoological associations pos- 

 sess one, there would be little use or profit to 

 the reader in describing him ; but it may be 

 as well to mention a few of his habits and 

 nature of haunts. 



A full-grown tapir in his native forest is 

 a much larger animal than any I have ever 

 seen in a state of captivity ; he is about the 

 height and length of a large donkey, but 

 much more massive, with very short legs. 

 His habits are generally solitary, and he 

 seems t& delight in wandering about alone, 

 at least for the greatest part of the year. He 

 seldom rests near one spot for any length of 

 time ; indeed, were he to take up his resi- 

 dence near any spot cleared for maize, he 

 would soon be hunted down, as no fence can 

 withstand his weight and strength ; and they 



