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TAPIR.

Or the tapir there are two species, the American,
found, as its name imports, in that continent, and the
Malay tapir, which is a native of the peninsula of
Malacca, and the island of Sumatra. Remains of this
animal, too, in the fossil state, have been found in
Germany, France, and Italy; and of a larger size than
either of the two kinds now in existence.

The following account of a very young Indian tapir,
which Major Farquhar had for some time alive in his
possession, is part of a communication made by him
to the Asiatic Society:—“It appears, that until the age
of four months, this species is black, and _ beautifully
marked with spots and stripes, of a fawn-colour above,
and white below. After that period, it begins to change
colour, the spots disappear, and at the age of six months
it becomes of the usual colour of the adult.” Major
Farquhar adds that he found the animal to be of a
mild and gentle disposition. It became as tame as a
dog; and would eat all kinds of vegetables, bread, rice,
cakes, or the like, for which it would come to the table.

Sir Stamford Raffles writes of another of these animals
as follows:—“The living specimen sent from Bencoolen
to Bengal, was young, and became very tractable. It
was allowed to roam occasionally in the tank at Bar-
rackpore; and the man who had charge of it informed
me that it frequently entered the ponds, and appeared to
walk under the water, and not to make any attempt to
swim. The flesh is eaten by the natives of Sumatra.’

In a further account of this species, we read, “a
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