THE TAPIIR. 



at pleafure. Each jaw contains ten cutting teeth, and a fimilar number of 

 grinders; its ears are erecl:, oval, and bordered with white; its eyes are 

 fmall, the form of its body refembling that of a hog; its back arched; its 

 legs lhort; and its hoofs fmall, black, and hollow; its tail is extremely 

 fmall; its hair fliort, and of a dufky colour; the neck is covered with a 

 briftly mane, about an inch 'and a half high. The female differs from 

 the male in wanting the probofcis, and having both the jaws of an equal 

 length. 



This animal, which grows to the fize of a young Cow, is of a mild and 

 inoffenfive difpofition, and is capable of being made perfectly tame. They 

 are fometimes kept in Guiana, and fed in the farm yards with other domeftic 

 beafts; they live chiefly on fruits, grafs, and fugar-canes; they feed 

 themfelves with their nofe, ufing it in the fame manner as the Rhinoceros 

 ufes his upper lip. They are faid to know the perfon who ufually fupplies 

 them with food, and to rummage people's pockets in fearch for meat. 



The Indians moot them with envenomed arrows, in order to obtain their 

 ikins for bucklers, and to procure a repaft which they pronounce excellent. 



The moll common attitude of the Tapiir is fitting on the rump, like a 

 Dog. It is a falacious, fluggifli animal, but if attacked it will make a 

 vigorous refinance, and will tear the fkin from fuch Dogs as it can poflibly 

 feize. 



