45^ AMERICAN TAPIR, 



bious animal, being continually on the surface of 

 the ground, near the sides of hills, and in dry 

 places ; and if it occasionally frequents marshy 

 ground, it is chiefly in quest of sustenance, and 

 because it finds there a greater quantity of vege- 

 tables than on more elevated spots : but as it daubs 

 itself much, during its wanderings in such places, it 

 goes every morning and evening in search of some 

 river or lake, in which it may swim and wash it- 

 self. Notwithstanding its clumsy appearatice, the 

 Tapir swims extremely well, and dives most readily ; 

 but cannot continue longer under Avater than any 

 other terrestrial quadruped, and is obliged every 

 now and then to put out its trunk in order to re- 

 spire. When pursued by dogs, it runs, if possible, 

 to some river, which it crosses, and thus eludes 

 their pursuit. It does not eat fish ; its only nou- 

 rishment being vegetables, and especially the 

 young shoots of plants, and such fruit as it finds 

 under the trees. It wanders chiefly by night, ex- 

 cept in dull rainy weather, when it appears by 

 day. It is a solitary, gentle, timid animal, flying 

 at the least noise, and having a very quick ear." 



M. Bajon kept one of these animals, which had 

 been taken young, and which soon grew tame, and 

 acquired a strong attachment to him, distinguishing 

 him in the midst of many other persons, licking 

 his hands, and following him like a dog; and 

 Vvould often go out alone into the woods, to a 

 great distance, but always returned early in the 

 evening, M. Bajon assures us he saw one which 

 ran tame about the streets at Cayenne ; but wliicb, 



