THE TAPIKS 



145 



of the end of an elephant's trunk. The shoulder 

 height of a full-grown animal is about 37 inches. 

 The species best known to the world inhabits 

 Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Paraguay, Uru- 

 guay and the northern portion of the Argentine 

 Republic. Although tapirs are usually found 

 along small and well-shaded rivers in the hot 

 lowlands of the tropics, they are also frequently 

 found on forest-covered mountains. They are 

 exceedingly shy and wary, and under all circum- 

 stances are difficult to find. Without dogs it is 

 almost impossible to outwit them. When at- 



tacked they always head for the nearest stream, 

 and plunge into the water for concealment. Their 

 food consists of soft and fleshy plants that grow 

 in or within easy reach of streams, and in dense 

 forests where the humidity is great. The flesh 

 of all tapirs is said to be very palatable, and in 

 South America it is much sought by hunters. 



The South American Tapir thrives in cap- 

 tivity, either with a bath-tank or without, and 

 breeds. In 1903 a pair bred in the National 

 Zoological Park, at Washington, and the off- 

 spring survived. 



