HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 155 



The Long-nosed TAPIIR 



is the Hippopotarmis of the new world, and has by fome 

 authors been miftaken for that animal— It inhabits the 

 woods and rivers on the eaftern fide of South-America, 

 from the ifthmus of Darien to the river of the Amazons. 

 —It is a folitary animal, (Jeeps during the day, and goes 

 out in the night in fearch of food ; lives on grafs, fugar- 

 canes, and fruits. If difturbed, it takes to the water; 

 fwims with great eafe, or plunges to the bottom ; and, 

 like the Hippopotamus, walks there as on dry ground. 



It is about the fize of a fmall Cow : Its nofe is long 

 and flender, and extends far beyond the lower jaw, form- 

 ing a kind of probofcis, which it can contract or extend 

 at pleafure ; each jaw is furnifhed with ten cutting teeth, 

 and as many grinders ; its ears are fmall and erecl: ; its 

 body formed like that of a Hog; its back arched; legs 

 fhort ; and hoofs, of which it has four upon each foot, 

 fmall, black, and hollow ; its tail is very fmall *, its hair 

 (hort, and of a dulky-brown colour. 



The Tapiir is mild and inoffenfive, avoids all hoftilities 



