Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-10
THE TAPIR.
Something About the Animal and It's
Interesting Habits.

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, a little
muscular trunk, which he can elongate
or shorten at pleasure, and which gives
him some analogy to the elephant. but
which is entirely destitute of that
tinger-like appendage which the latter
animal uses with such dexterity.
About four and half feet long, the
body of the tapir is fat and clumsy, and
ends in large Group; his bony head is
quite strong, his eyes small, his ears
long and flexible; the legs are strong,
and terminate, in the anterior eXtremi-
ties in four toes, and in the posterior
in three. The tail is but little de-
veloped and the skin is scantily fur
nished with silky hair. The head, neck,
shoulders, legs, and tail are black. The
rest of the body is of whitish color,
says a writer in the New York Ledger,
and there is no name on the neck.
The tapir inhabits the island of
Sumatra and the Peninsula of Malacca,
where it is as common as the elephant
and rhinoceros. It'lives solitary, and
frequents marshy places, where it is
fond of wallowing; it walks fast, and
swims easily; its food is entirely vegeta-
BILE, and consists of fruits and wild
roots, as well as the young shoots of
plants. Timid and gentle in DISPOSE
ton, this animal is easily tanned; it
never attacks man, whom it avoids
carefully. The flesh is esteemed by
the natives, though dry and disagree
able to the taste, but its hide is very
tough, and is usefully employed by
them for domestic purposes or the
fabrication of defensive armor.
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 it resembles the hog; but the legs
are rather longer in proportion, and
the nose is pro onged into a small,
movable proboscis. The fore feet have
four toes, and the hind ones three only.
The eyes are small and lateral, and the
ears long and pointed; the skin thick,
and covered with scattering, short
silky hairs; the tail short and slightly
hairy. The teeth resemble those of a
uOlSc IL 10 tHC ldI SCoo diilAidL VI
South America, and is found in all
parts of that continent. though most
abundant in Guiana, Brazil, and Para
quay. 1t shuns the habtations of men,
and leads solitary life in The interior
OF forests, in moist situations, but
selects for its abode place somewhat
elevated and dry. By travelling always
the same rounds it forms beaten paths
which are very conspicuous. 1t comes
out only in the night or in rainy
weather, and resorts to the marshes.
It's ordinary pace is a sort of trot, but
it sometimes gallops. though awkward
", and with the head down, and, be-
sides, swims with facility. In the wild
state it lives On fruits and young
branches of trees. but when domesti-
Gated eats every kind of food. Though
possessed of great strength, it makes
use of it only for defense; and its dis
position is mild and timid. The flesh
is dry and of disagreeable taste; but
the skin is tough, and might be applied
to many useful purposes.