The Tapir. 123 
THE TAPIE. (Tapirus americanus.) 
Tins animal bears considerable resemblance to the wild 
boar, but is without tusks, and has its snout prolonged 
into a small fleshy proboscis, or trunk. This trunk, 
however, has not the flexibility of that of the elephant, 
and is incapable of holding anything. The colour of the 
Tapir is of a deep brown, and the male has a small 
mane on the upper part of his neck. It stands about 
three feet and a half high, and measures nearly six feet 
in length. It lies in thickets, the thorny branches 
of which cannot affect it from the thickness of its skin, 
while they lacerate the skins of its pursuers. Its 
favourite food is the water-melon. It is generally found 
alone, and always roams in search of food at night ; 
and it is easily tamed if taken young. It possesses the 
same power of remaining under water as the hippo- 
potamus, and when it enters a pond, can descend to the 
bottom, and remain there five or six minutes. 
The Malayan Tapir (T. malayanus), is very similar to 
the American species in form ; but is larger and has no 
mane. It is very remarkable for the distribution of its 
colours, the anterior part and the legs being deep black, 
and the rump, back, and sides, white. This animal is 
found chiefly in Sumatra and Borneo. 
