234 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



frequently goes into it ; it swims well, and has a habit of walking 

 along the bottom. One of its peculiarities is that it always takes to 

 water to deposit excreta. As may be conjectured from its stout build, 

 it is rather a strong than a swift animal ; it rushes through the forest 

 with great force when alarmed, and in this way often escapes when 

 seized by its chief foe, the Jaguar, forcing its feline enemy to let 

 go its hold by rushing under boughs. It also bites severely when 

 brought to bay. 



Its food is vegetable, consisting of grass, leaves, and fruit, and it 

 is itself esteemed as food by the natives, the flesh being somewhat 

 like beef in quality ; insignificant as it is compared to the mighty 

 animals inhabiting corresponding latitudes in the Old World, it is 

 the biggest game animal in South America. 



The Tapir is a harmless animal, and not difficult to tame, and is 

 sometimes kept in a state of liberty in its own home, while it is also 

 a familiar exhibit in Zoological Gardens, and has produced young 

 there. It needs a quantity of water sufficient to bathe in, and has to 

 be kept indoors in a warmed house in winter, like the Elephant and 

 Rhinoceros. 



BAIRD'S TAPIR 



(Tapirus bairdi) 



', Baird's Tapir, which much resembles the ordinary South American 

 Tapir in appearance, save that its cheeks are noticeably pale-coloured, 

 is a Central American animal ranging from Southern Mexico .to 

 Panama; in general habits it seems to resemble the Common Tapir, 

 but is addicted to frequenting mountainous districts. It hag been 

 known ever since the time of the celebrated traveller Dampier, who 

 wrote of it in 1676 as the " Mountain Cow," though ; mentidning^that 

 personally he had never seen it. It presents a remarkable difference 

 from the ordinary Tapirs, in having the partition of the nostrils bony, 

 but this does not affect its. outward appearance. The same peculiarity 



