THE MALAYSIAN - UNGULATES. 
9 
The existing Tapirs have a very curious distribution. 
Besides, the Malayan Tapir with its restricted range in tile 
South-eastern corner of Asia, there are only four other species 
known, all of which are confined to Central and South America, 
A further curious feature is that two of these American Tapirs 
are more closely related to the Malayan Tapir than they are 
to the other two American species. This is explained by the 
discovery of extinct Tapirs in the middle and upper Tertiary 
rocks of Europe, China and North America, thus showing that 
these animals had at one time a very much wider range than 
they have now. These extinct forms are very closely allied to 
existing forms; our surviving Tapirs are on that account re- 
garded as “ living fossils *' and among the oldest of living 
mammals. 
The Tapir offers no trophies in the shape of horns or 
tusks to attract the attentions of the big-game hunter. His 
chief enemy in Malaysia is probably the Tiger. But its pro- 
tective coloration, especially in the young, its retiring habits 
and quickness of senses, no doubt give it a good chance of 
escape. 
RHINOCEROSES* 
(Fam. 3. RUINOCEROTWAE). 
Five species of Rhinoceros exist today : two in Africa, and 
three in East India and Malaysia. The general characters are the 
great bulk and heavy build; exceptionally thick skin folded in 
places so as to give somewhat of an armour-plated effect; the heavy 
nose bearing one or two horns placed in the median line ; the three- 
toed fore feet (although in some extinct species the fore feet have 
four toes as in the tapirs) ; ears erect; eyes small. 
Of the Asiatic rhinoceroses, the largest is the Indian species 
which stands from 5 to 5 if feet at the shoulder; the length from 
tip of snout to root of tail is al>out 10 ft. and the girth 9 ft This 
species is practically con fined to Assam. 
The Javan rhinoceros is the next in point of size and, like the 
Indian species, has only one horn. The smallest is the Sumatran 
rhinoceros, which is further characterized by the presence of two 
horns instead of one. 
Although generally a timid animal the rhinoceros is often 
knowTi to charge its foes when attacked; its senses of hearing and* 
smell are keen, but owing to its weak sight and no doubt on account 
of its heavy build, the rhinoceros only charges straight in the pre- 
sumed direction of its foe. A quick step to the side is alt that is 
