Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-05-20
HARlTs oE TIE TAPIR.
A Queer Animal Found In East india and
South America.

A Queer Animal Found In East India and
South America.
The East Indian tapir resembles the
boar in form, though standing higher on
his legs, and has at the extremity of his
head, instead of a snout, little mus
cular trunk, which he can elongate or
shorten at pleasure, and which gives
him some analogy to the elephant but
which Is entirely Il stitute Of that finger
like appendage which the latter animal
uses with such dexte ty.
5 About four and 1alf feet high and
ten feet long, the body Of the tapir is
fat and clumsy, and ends in large
group; his bony head is quito strong,
his eyes small, his cars long and flexible;
tho legs are strong, and terminate, in
the anterior eStremities In four toes,
and in the posterior in three. Tho tail
is but little developed, and the skin is
scantily furnished with silky hair. The
head, neck. shoulders, legs and tail are
black. The rest of the body Is of a
whitish color, and there Is no name on
tho neck.
Tho tapir inhabits the island of Suma-
ira and the peninsula of Malacca where
rhinoeeros. II lives solitary, and FREE
quents marshy places, where 1t is fond
of wallowing; 1t walks fast and swims
easily; It's food IS entirely vegetable
and consists Of fruits and wild roots as
we'll as the young shoots of plants
Timid and gentle In deposition. this
animal is easily tanned; 1t never attacks
man. whom 1t avoids carefully. Tho
nesh Is esteemed by the natives,
through, dry and disagreeable to the
taste but its hide Is very tough, and is
usefully employed by them for domestic
purposes or the fabrication of defensive
srmor
There are other animals OF the same
species in other parts OF the world.
The American tapir when full grown,
Is six feet in total length, and about
three and half in height. In general
form 1t resembles tho hog: but the legs
are rather longer in proportion. and
the nose Is prolonged into small
movable prohoscis. The fore feet have
four toes, and tile hind onos three only,
The eyes arc small and lateral, and
the ears long and pointed. the skin
thieb, and covered with scattering, short,
silky hairs; the tail short aud slightly
hairy. The teeth resemble those of
horse. II Is the largest animal of South
America and is found in all parts Of
that continent, though most abundant
in Guiana, Brazil and Paraguay. It
shuRs the hnbitations of mon, and leads
q solitary life in the interior Of forests,
ir moist situations, but selects for its
abode place somewhat elevated and
dry. KY travelling always the same
rounds, 1t forms beaten paths which are
very conspicuous. 1T comes out only in
the night or in rainy weather, and re-
sorts to the marshes. Its ordinary pace
is q sort OF trot, but 1t sometimes gal
lops, though awkwardly, and with the
head down, and, besides, swims with
facility. In The wild state, it lives on
Fruits ana young branches OF trees, but
when dotnestieated, eats every kind OF
food Thaugh possessed fgreatstrength,
1t makes. use Of 1t only in defence and
Its disposition is mild and timid The
eesh is dry and of disagreeable taste;
but the skin is tough aud might be APP
piled 70. many useful purposes Y,
Ledger. .