TAPIR, in natural history, a geniis of Mammalia of the order Reflux. Generic character : ten fore teeth in each jaw ; tusks in both jaws single and incurvated; five grinders on each side in both jaws ; feet with three hoofs, and on the fore feet a false hoof. The only species is the T. Americanus. This is a native of South America, and, when perfect in growth, is about the size of a heifer. Its colour is a dark brown, and the male is distin guished by a species of very short pro boscis. The tapir is perfectly inoffensive, and considerably timid, seeking safety in flight, and often plunging into waters, in which he swims with great rapidity, and in which sometimes he proceeds for a long way, ranging at the bottom at a very great depth ; in this respect resembling the hippopotamus. When resting, the tapir sits in the manner of a dog. In feeding, its trunk is employed in drawing into its mouth the vegetables which con stitute its nourishment. In some parts
of Guiana it has been domesticated, and, when taken young, is easily familiarized. Its flesh is not excellent for flavour or de licacy, but is nevertheless used for food; and its skin, which is of uncommon toughness, is converted to various pur poses of usefulness. It is slow in its movements, sleeps during the greater part of the day, and is destroyed by the Indians, who decoy it by the imitation of its peculiar sounds, by poisoned arrows. It produces but one at a birth, in the care of which it is extremely assiduous and affectionate.
TAR, a thick, black, unctuous sub stance, obtained from old pines and fir trees, by burning them with a close smo thering heat : it is used for coating and caulking ships, &c. and various other purposes.