THE TAPIR FAMILY. 



43 



over the cavity of the nose. They are very 

 unequal in size, a*nd are attached at a rather 

 open angle to the very narrow forehead. In 

 the genus Elasmognathus, which has been 

 separated from the true tapirs, the structure 

 of the nasals approaches that seen in the 

 rhinoceroses. The nasal roof in this case 

 is much larger, is arched, and supported by 

 a long partition. 



The dentition is very characteristic. In 

 both jaws there are six incisors, three on 

 each side; but while in the lower jaw these 

 incisors are chisel-shaped and diminish in 

 size outwards, those of the upper jaw, on the 

 contrary, are conical, massive, pointed, and 

 assume altogether the appearance of strong 

 sharp canines. The true canines are very 

 small in the upper jaw; in the lower jaw, on 

 the other hand, furnished with a short, 

 strong, sharp crown. In both jaws these 

 teeth are separated by a wide interval from 

 the cheek-teeth, of which there are seven 

 above, six below, in each half of the jaw, all 

 indistinguishable in form and structure. They 

 have almost quadrangular crowns, which are 

 often so deeply divided by a transverse fissure 

 that they seem to be composed of two blades 

 set behind one another. In the lower jaw 

 this so-called zygodont structure of tooth is 

 most marked, since the ridges are very straight 

 and appear to be completely separate, while 

 in the upper cheek-teeth they are connected 

 externally by a strip running length-ways. 



These creatures are inoffensive vegetable- 

 feeders, which live in families, seldom forming 

 small troops, and roam about especially in 

 morasses and in moist forests abounding in 

 streams and pools. They are somewhat 

 nocturnal in their habits, sleeping by day, 

 while by night they go out in search of tasty 

 plants, roots containing plenty of starch, and 

 fruits; they are very timid, and when danger 

 threatens at once seek refuge in the water, 

 where they swim and dive with great facility. 

 They are fond of diving to the bottom like 

 hippopotamuses. They bring forth one or 



two young ones at a time, and these have 

 a striped skin similar to that of porkers. 

 The females are larger than the males. 



Two genera can be distinguished. The 

 Brazilian Tapir, the Anta of the natives 

 {Tapirus americanus), fig. 146, belongs to 

 the genus of the true tapirs, with a cartila- 

 ginous nasal septum. The proboscis is cylin- 

 drical at the end, the finger-like process but 

 slightly developed, the colour of the skin 

 brownish-gray, rather darker along the middle 

 line of the back. On the neck there is a sort 

 of mane, composed of short stiff hair. In 

 other respects the covering of hair is similar 

 to that of a pig, being composed of thinly- 

 scattered adpressed bristles. 



The animal lives in the low marshy forests 

 of South America, hides by day, forms paths 

 by which it regularly passes and repasses 

 in the thickets, wallows in the marshes and 

 the mud, is remarkably timid, and endeavours 

 to make its escape at the least sound, either 

 plunging into the water or rushing blindly 

 through the underwood. Only in defending 

 their young do the mothers become furious, 

 and dart violently against the hunters and 

 dogs that attack them. In their own country 

 tapirs feed solely on vegetable matters, and 

 are just as eager as ruminants in searching 

 out salt pools and ponds. The large felines, 

 jaguars and cougars (pumas), pursue the 

 tapir with not less eagerness than man, who 

 finds his flesh, which is somewhat like beef, 

 very much to his taste, and in addition makes 

 an excellent thick leather out of his hide. 

 The anta is often kept in zoological gardens, 

 where he thrives pretty well if only supplied 

 with plenty of water and mud in which to 

 bathe and wallow, and with a good warm 

 crib for winter. 



Altogether the tapirs are harmless creatures, 

 which love rest and quiet, show little attach- 

 ment to their keepers, are as fond as pigs are 

 of being scratched, and live on good terms 

 with their fellows, but do not inspire visitors 

 with any great interest. 



