New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-30
THE TdPIR OF CENTRAL PARK.
SOME OF THE HABITS or AN INTERESTING
ANIMAL.

SOME or THE HABITS or AN INTERESTING
ANIMAL.
one Of the most interesting animals in the Central
PARK Menagerie IS the South American farr. tbs
animal whose home is in the swampy forests of
Brazil, the Guianas, Venezuela and As far north as
Honduras IS when first born marked With grayiss.
white stripes along the length OF the body and With
bands and spots the legs. When about three years
Old these stripes and marking disappear. and the
:: neral color OF the animal grows much darkr
The tarir, mypoorie. ms IT is called by the In
dams IS popularity supposed to be- aDlphibous
animal. This Is mistake. Il VIII, If necessity
obligcs IT, plunge Into deep water to cross creek or
70 escape from jagiar or large puma. What The
mypoorie does delight in is waowing in some shallow
pond or stream where 1t can just Wet the under and
hinder parts Of its body. The in Central Park
is never so happy rs in the when IT half
sit and lie on its launches In the round pond In the
mcfagcrie. with Its head. shoulders and back well
ont OF the water, and b1sk IN the sun. The one In
the menag,rle has the objection as the rest of
It's species TO getting Its head and back wet. and
whenever n rainsorm Is near always leaves the
tank and takes refuge in the little hut put up for It's
accommodation. Lake all other tapirs. II Is most
inqulsitive, and while the carpenter was putting mp
the small shed last year the tapir always along
side OF him. smiling here and there with its strangely
mobile nose but never attempting TO do any harm.
The taydr In the menageric Is really tame animal.
Holmes or any one IT may know, throwing Its head
lid 10 sniff for the sense OF sight Is certainly second
10 that OF smell in these animals. The tsplr dis
likes 10 De- stroksd the back, and will iumedi-
ately run away when this Is attempted but begin TO
scratch IL under the throat and it Will Immediately
stretch It's neck out to its fIrhcst limits and VIII
then roll over on its back and whistle with JOY.
The taplr is slow walker, being what might Be
termed a high stopper. but the foot comes down
softly on the ground, for fear Of breaking twis
and giving evidence OF It's presence. When once
alarmed the taplr starts off with bound changing
into Il trot and then into Il hsidong gillop which
Is irresistible. The writer experienced the e
fects of tapr's charge. lie WAS encamped on tae
banks Of a river IN Guiana. II night and was
raining In tropical fashion. The tent, however.
was waerteht, and good trench all round IL keW
the inside dry. An Ackowoi Indian had just come In
from the storm. having ooened the tent ropes. and
things were being made snug for the night when sud
denly everything went by the board. a taplr.
evidently chased by jaguar puma and making
for the river for safety, in its mad gaop dashed
through the tent and most effectively levelled 1t
the ground.
Occasionally the tapir Is surrounded by a rowing
band of peccares. but IL il has time to get into .
i ina, regiment Of cavalry viii cut through
OF Cos>acks. The tapir In the mcnagcre Is iona
of fruit, though its chief food Is corn soaked bread
and grass The position Of this animal when asleep
Is Interesting. When lying It's side the knee ana
lower joint, are bent In toward the body. so Una.
II IL IS aroused by sudden danger the feet can AZ
once grip the ground II II Is lying on its stomach
forceg is always stretched out In front while tue
an instant start. The tapir In the menagerie ha;
his tipped with white. There " a larger an I
OF this same kind which Is without THIS nsr@ s,n;
and Is supposed by naiuralists To be disIhcs
species. while others think II Is simply the mrt.tns
animal. founding their argument IN tne css d y, ysss
II the one now In the menagcric will only i've ios
year or two this question might be settled ae'e'