ACCOUNTS OF THE MALAY TAPIR. 103 
The following notes by the Secretary of the Society 
conclude the article in’ Asiatick Researches,” and are sufficient- 
ly interesting to bear repetition. 
“The animal’s habits continue of the gentle and indolent 
“ character mentioned in the preceding communication, and it 
“agrees with Major Farquhar’s description in every respect, 
“ except in its evincing a great fondness for water : it constantly 
“ seeks a pool in which it remains immersed the greater part of 
“ the day ; and not unfrequently dives for a very considerable 
“ period, presenting in this respect another analogy to the 
“Tapir of South America. 
“ The following description of a young animal, received 
‘subsequently from Major Farquhar, with some interesting 
“ communications on subjects of natural history, will complete 
: the information we at present possess regarding the oriental 
Tapir. 
¢ 
“The drawing which accompanies the following account 
* of a young Tapir, and which I have the pleasure of offering 
~ to the acceptance of the Asiatic Society, was taken from an 
“animal about four months old, and represents it as of a 
“reddish brown colour, studded with white spots. It was 
“taken from one I had alive in the house. After it has passed 
“the above period, it begins gradually to change colour until 
“ the age of six months, by which time it has lost all its 
~ beautiful spots, and attained the general colour of the full 
“ srown Tapir as represented in a drawing transmitted from 
“hence to the Asiatic Society in the beginning of last year. 
“The Tapir from which the present drawing was made, I 
“preserved alive in the house for upwards of six months, when 
“it died suddenly. I found it an animal possessed of a most 
“mild and gentle disposition. It became as tame and familiar 
“as any of the dogs about the house, fed indiscriminately on 
‘all kinds of vegetables; and was very fond of attending at 
“table to receive bread, cakes, or the like. It seemed very 
“ susceptible of cold, notwithstanding the great thickness of its 
skin, and I think I may venture without safety to affirm that 
R. A. Soc., No. 52, 1908. 
