The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-03-03
;388
Hunting the Tapir.

60 forget the odd looking animal known as
the tapir. Its long proboscis-like snout, its
Stiffmaned neck, and clumsy hog-like body,
render the tout ensemble of this creature so
peculiar, that there is no lnistaking it for
any other animal. A minute description of
1t may be avoided, but few of its charac-
teristics may be interesting to the reader
When full grown, the tapir, or anita, as it
is sometimes called, is six feet in length by
nearly four in height--its weight being
nearly equal to that of small bullock. Its
teeth resemble those of horse but, instead
of hoofs, its feet are toed-the fore ones
having four toes, while the hind feet have
have only three EACH The eyes are small
and lateral, while the ears are large and
pointed. The skin is thick, somewhat like
che hippopotamus, with very thin scatter
ing of silky hairs over it; but along the
ridge of the neck and upon the short tail,
the hairs are longer and more profnse. The
upper jaw protrudes far beyond the under
one. 1t is, moreover, highly prehensile, and
enables the tapir to seize the roots upon
which it feeds with greater ease. In fact, it
plays the part of the elephants proboscis, to a
limited degree.
Although the largest quadruped indigenous
to South America, the tapir is not very we'll
known to naturalists. Its haunts arc far be.
JOhu UOIuClS VI ClNIllLdllOu II 10,
moreover, shy and solitary creature, and
its active life is mostly nocturnal hence no
great opportunity is offered for observing its
habits. The chapter Of its natural history
is therefore a short one
The tapir is an inhabitant of the tropical
countries of America, dwelling near the
banks Of rivers and marshy lagoons. II is
the American representative of the rhino ceros
and hlppopotamus, or more properly, of the
r,ai6a, or Indian Tapir Tapirus Indic1s8) Of
Sumatra, which has but lately become known
TO naturalists The latter, in fact, is near
congener, and very much resembles the tapir
of South America.
1t is amphibious-tha is, it frequents the
water, can swim and dive we'll, and gener-
ally seeks it's food in the water or the soft
marshy sedge; but when in repose, it is
land animal, making its haunt in the thick
spot for its lair. Here it will remain couch
ed and asleep during the greater part of the
day At nightfall it steals forth, and fol-
lowing an old and we'll used path, it ap-
proaches the bank of some river, and plunges
in, swims off in search of food-the roots
and stems of several species of water plants.
In this business it occupies most of the
hours of darkness but at daybreak, it swims
back to the place where it entered the water,
and going out, takes the " back track to its
lair, where it sleeps until sunset again warns
it forth.
Sometimes, during rain, it leaves its den
even at midday. On such occasions it pro-
ceeds to the river or the adjacent swamp,
where it delights to wallow in the mud, af-
Ger the manner of hogs, and often for hours
together. Unlike the hog, however, the tapir
is cleanly animal. After wallowing, it
never returns to its den until it has first
plunged into the clear water, and washed its
skin thoroughly 1t usually travels at a
Not, but when hard pressed. it can gallop.
It's gallop is peculiar. The fore-legs are
thrown far in advance and the head is car
ried between them in very awkward man
ner. somewhat after the fashion of frolic-
some donkey.
The tapir is strictly vegetable FEEDER
Il lives upon flags and roots of aquatic
plants. Several kinds of fruits, and young
succulent branches of trees. form portion
Of its food. 1t is shy, timid animal, with
out any malice in its character and although
possessed of great strength, never uses it ex-
cept for defence, and then only in endeavors
TO escape. 1t frequently suffers itself to be
killed without making any defence, although
with its great strength and we'll furnished
Jaws it might do serious hurt to an enemy.
The hunt of the taniF is one of the amuSe-