is placed on the animal's body in such a fashion as to resemble a
coat of ancient armour. The singular protuberances have a complete
resemblance to the "bosses" which were worn on the shields and
breast-plates of warriors of the olden time.

A second species, the Warak, which inhabits Java, is somewhat similarly
accoutred; but the third Asiatic kind, the Sumatran rhinoceros, has a
smoother skin, more resembling that of the African rhinoceros.

These last-mentioned are denizens of the African continent; but
especially of the regions extending northward from the Cape. They do
not all four frequent the same district; but two, and sometimes three of
them, are found in one locality. They are distinguished as the black
and white rhinoceroses--there being two species of the black, and two of
the white. The black ones are much fiercer than their white congeners;
although the latter are by far the largest, and present a far more
formidable appearance, from the extreme length of their horns.

The _Tapir_ was for a long time supposed to be exclusively an American
animal, but later research proves that there is also a species in Asia.
It is found in the Island of Sumatra, and is larger than the American
species, though very much resembling it in other respects. A new
species has also been discovered in South America, altogether differing
from the American tapir already so well-known.

The habits of the American tapir are not unlike those of the rhinoceros.
It is a creature of great strength, and heavy in its movements. It can
live for a long time under water; and its haunts are the banks of the
great rivers--especially where these are marshy, and covered with reeds
and other aquatic plants, which constitute its food. It can swim or
walk under the water at will; but its lair is generally in some bushy
retreat at a distance from the banks; and its visits to the water are
usually nocturnal. It is an object of chase among the native Indians,
who prize both its flesh and skin; but its capture is by no means an
easy matter, since its thick hide renders it impervious to the tiny
arrow of the blow-gun.

This species is found in all the rivers of South America, from Paraguay
to the Isthmus of Darien; but its range terminates very abruptly on the
north--a fact which puzzles the naturalist, since for many degrees
further northward, climate and other circumstances are found similar to
those which appear to favour its existence in