IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 135 



found digging holes in the same way as these two-horned animals. 

 The E. sondaieus now living in the garden has never yet been 

 observed to wallow in the mud, and although it has ready access to a 

 large sheet of water, it does not resort to it as frequently, except during 

 very warm weather, as the habits of the genus lead us to expect. The 

 highest bliss of the two-horned species, on the other hand, is to lie 

 undisturbed in a muddy hollow or in water, and for this purpose they 

 are constantly digging new holes or undermining the banks of the 

 tank, which at times have to be protected by piles and brickbats. They 

 loosen the earth with the anterior horn, scraping and throwing it back 

 with the fore feet, sometimes beating the lumps down to convert them 

 into a soft ooze which they so much enjoy. They remain so quiet and 

 still and thoroughly smeared with this liquid mud that it is sometimes 

 difficult to detect their presence. When hungry and food is not forth- 

 coming, the two-horned rhinoceroses call for it with a monotonous 

 wailing whine ; compared with the size, their voice is weak. 



(168) THE MALAYAN TAPIR. 

 (TAPIRUS INDICUS— Desm.) 



Description. — Externally, a tapir much resembles a pig, but is twice 

 as large in size ; anatomically, it is related to the rhinoceros on the one 

 hand and to the horse on the other; it has four toes on the fore and 

 three toes on the hind foot. Its most characteristic feature is the 

 elongated snout, forming a short movable trunk ; the colouring of its 

 body is also peculiar, being greyish white on the back and sides, and 

 black on other parts, the line of separation being distinct and well 

 marked. It has a short tail and pointed ears, and its body is covered 

 with short hairs. 



Hab. — Malayan peninsula, Sumatra. It also inhabits Tenas- 

 serim, Lower Siam, Tavoy, and Mergui provinces. 



Length of life in captivity. 



From 1882 to 1890. 



(169) THE HAIRY TAPIR. 

 (TAPIKUS ROULim—Fischer.) 



Smaller than the preceding ; of a dark brown or blackish colour ; 

 ears edged white ; snout less elongate. 

 Hab. — High regions of the Andes. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 An adolescent specimen has been living since December 1890. 



TEEATMENT IN HEALTH. 



Rousing. — In their wild state tapirs live in the depths of shady 

 forests in the neighbourhood of water, to which they frequently resort 

 for swimming and bathing. In captivity they should have a large 



