320 WILD ANIMALS. 



the Zoological Society, but it died soon after it came into their 

 possession. 



Another smaller species was discovered in South America by 

 M. Roulin (Tapirus Boulinii). Both in appearance and habits it 

 is similar to the previously described animal. Murray mentions it 

 as inhabiting the higher regions of the Andes at an altitude of 

 seven or eight thousand feet. It "possesses peculiar interest from 

 being clothed with long, thick, close, felted blackish-brown hair, 

 giving us an instance exactly corresponding to the warm coating 

 of the species of Pachyderms which have been adapted for living 

 in cold climates. The mammoth had a ponderous fleece of long 

 hair and felted wool; and the northern rhinoceros was also 

 woolly-haired. And here, where the conditions of its life call for 

 the provision, we have their congener, the tapir, similarly 

 protected." 



The Asiatic tapir (Tapirus Indicus) is confined in its habitation 

 to Sumatra, Malacca, and the South-west province of China. In 

 habits it differs but little from the tapirs of the New World, but in 

 its appearance there is considerable dissimilarity. 



In the first place it has not any mane on the neck, and, 

 secondly, its colour makes it very distinct. Its head, neck, and fore- 

 legs, instead of being dusky brown like the American species, are 

 quite black, so also are the hind-quarters, but its body is lightish- 

 grey, almost white. The two colours are separated by a defined 

 line, and the sharp contrast between the black parts and the white, 

 which are not softened off by any mingling of tints, gives the 

 animal the appearance, from a short distance, of having a white 

 cloth covered around the body. 



It is a larger animal than its American congeners, and its 

 proboscis is stronger and capable of greater extension. 



This species was only discovered in 1805 by Major Parquhar, 

 and from a specimen he forwarded Sir Stamford Raffles the first 

 account of it was given to the pubhc. The depths of the forests it 

 inhabits and its retiring habits can be surmised from the extra- 

 ordinary fact that so large an animal should have so long escaped 

 the observation of naturalists. 



