THE TAPIRS 
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of the end of an elephant’s trunk. The shoulder 
height of a full-grown animal is about 37 inches. 
The species best known to the world inhabits 
Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Paraguay, Uru- 
guay and the northern portion of the Argentine 
Republic. Although tapirs are usually found 
along small and well-shaded rivers in the hot 
lowlands of the tropics, they are also frequently 
found on forest-covered mountains. They are 
exceedingly shy and wary, and under all circum- 
stances are difficult to find. Without dogs it is 
almost impossible to outwit them. When at- 
tacked they always head for the nearest stream, 
and plunge into the water for concealment. Their 
food consists of soft and fleshy plants that grow 
in or within easy reach of streams, and in dense 
forests where the humidity is great. The flesh 
of all tapirs is said to be very palatable, and in 
South America it is much sought by hunters. 
The South American Tapir thrives in cap- 
tivity, either with a bath-tank or without, and 
breeds. In 1903 a pair bred in the National 
Zoological Park, at Washington, and the off- 
spring survived. 
