RARE AND UNFAMILIAR ANIMALS 297 



in a separate family, and comes between the Hippopotami and the 

 Rhinoceroses. 



The Brazilian, or Common, Tapir attains a length of some five 

 feet. It possesses a strongly built body, a powerful thick neck, short 

 legs, and a curious proboscis on the upper part of the snout. It 

 is uniform dark-brown or blackish in colour, but the young, it is 

 interesting to note, are spotted and striped like the Malayan species. 

 The South American animal has a short, rigid mane, and the ears 

 are margined with white. The small eyes, short tail, smooth, thick 

 skin, and erect oval ears are further features worth recording. 



One would have thought that the four species found in Central 

 and Southern America would all be closely related, but this is not 

 so, as although two are quite distinct and nearly akin, the remaining 

 two species are first cousins to the Malayan Tapir, and fossil remains 

 which have been discovered in Europe, China, the United States and 

 Brazil go to prove that these forest dwellers of bygone days closely 

 resembled the living species, and are thus to be numbered among 

 the most ancient patriarchs of the mammal world. 



All the five Tapirs may be written of as shy, retiring and 

 inoffensive beasts of nocturnal habits, and all are fond of frequenting 

 the neighbourhood of water, in which they are constantly immersing 

 their bodies. They feed exclusively upon a vegetable diet, such 

 delicacies as leaves, buds and shoots being greatly relished. 



They possess keen powers of both smell and hearing, carrying 

 the head close to the ground when walking. When disturbed, the 

 beasts rush headlong away, paying little regard to any obstacles that 

 may cross their path, and, when coming to water, plunging in 

 without the slightest hesitation and swimming with ease and facility. 



Tapir hunting, although not affording particularly good sport, is 

 indulged in to a large extent in South America, the flesh of the 

 animal being very nice eating, and the tough hide is, after proper 

 treatment, made into reins and bridles. Whilst man is an enemy 

 to be reckoned with, there are other foes which have to be overcome, 

 chief among which is the Jaguar in South America, whilst the Tiger 

 is an inveterate enemy of the Malayan species. 



MALAYAN TAPIR. This Tapir (Fig. 235) differs in both size and 

 colour from the animals last under review, as it attains a length over 

 all of some eight feet and stands from three to three and a half feet 

 in height at the withers. Constant reference to the latter makes it 

 necessary to explain that the withers is the junction of the shoulder- 



