NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 97 
MALAY TAPIR. 
of the world is chiefly maintained in that way. The fine 
male specimen exhibited in the Zoological Park was pur- 
chased from the Central Park Menagerie, for $3,000, and is 
a gift from Mr. Samuel Thorne. He was born on July 13, 
1904. His weight on November 1, 1909, at five years of age, 
was 3,114 pounds; and he is growing rapidly. 
The Tapirs.——Near the end of the Order of Hoofed Ani- 
mals, (Ungulata), is found the Tapir Family, represented 
in both the old world and the new, by about five species. 
These very odd creatures inhabit the densest forests of the 
tropics, where vegetation grows rankly, and few other large 
hoofed animals can live. They are very fond of water, and 
swim well. 
The South American Tapir, (Tapirus terrestris), takes 
kindly to captivity, breeds in confinement, and always man- 
ages to look well-fed and as sleek as a seal. Its color is a 
rich. mahogany brown, and its long, prehensile nose is 
strongly suggestive of the end of an elephant’s trunk. The 
shoulder height of a full-grown animal is about 37 inches. 
This species inhabits Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Para- 
guay, Uruguay and some other regions of South America. 
Some of the Central American Tapirs inhabit mountain re- 
gions, but all are exceedingly wary, and difficult to find 
without dogs. 
