LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS LION THE TAPIR

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12199, 25 July 1925, Page 16

LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS LION

THE TAPIR

The tapir is descended from one or the oldest families of quadrupeds, and has mover lost his old-time ways and characteristics. Be is a -true creature of the wilds, hut does not share the ferocious tendencies of most wild beasts. Instead, he is-unusually shy and timid, on the least hint, of danger will bolt blindly through, the forest undergrowth, and never provokes a fight with other animals. The only quarrelsome member of the family is Mrs Tapir, and her wrath is only aroused When her young are in danger. The tapir is a queer fellow .to meet At home—generally low, marshy fotests. He is about the size of a donkey, but at first sight looks something like a pig —a pig with a high, intelligent forehead. He has funny little fears, jnst the shape of the paper cornets in which village shopkeepers sell their sweets. A ridge of hair runs from the middle ol his forehead down his back, and helps his neck to have that peculiar arched look that one associates with spirited cobs. He has a large, round stomach that swells up to- his backbone, after which the body shrinks away to insignificant hind 1 eg» and the merest apology for a tail: Two points, however, make the learned natural historian very keen about the tapir—his nose and his toes. His

nose, one must admit, is a sort of disAtr.pcnntment. It might have been a trunk, like that of an elephant, but stopped after it had grown a few inches from the mouth, and the o.ily use the owner can make of it is for smelling and touching, andi occasionally, when he' has takeff too big a bite, for poking the projecting morsels into his mouth. The structure of the feet Sets him in a class by himself, as they have four hoofed toes in front and three behind, thus making him look more like a tiger than a pig.. "th® natives in the parte where he lives, along with animals like jaguars and pumas, are his chief enemies. His habits are mainly nocturnal, which is rather a pity, as he is not possessed of the skill and; guile by which' hightroaming' animals generally protect themselves. o..melancholy tapir, you Who haunt the forests of Brazil I There surely lives no hunter who Would seek for pleasure you to kill. He surely would much .rather strayAlong the marshy forest way, And mark the music, long drawn out,. Of your inquiring, anxious stibut, And try to think Cof course, you can’t) Just why you aren’t an elephant. O melancholy tapir, you Who meekly march the forest through!

Ivy McGhie. Chanoe Along, Maori Bank, Upper Hutt. Tho ,verses are * very sweefc too, little- one . . . but “fun” doesn’t really rhyme with ■< “come” does ,'it„ only the vowelsqund when we .say them. The “N” sound,in, one and,<.the “M” sound ' in the other spoil them for a truly ; rhyme. . v . 'But I do like it. I hope mother is better, dear. Why are half my kisses rubbed out ?Do I only deserve .three P Maureen Powell. Waikari, Kirk street, Otaki.—Why, of 1 course you’re not, Maureen. . . We’re awfully glad you’re coming I And we want to hear all about. Buster and Ding. Yob, 1 think! books are one of the very best funs, but I haven’t read that one. -Claudia Browne,. 77, Apq crescent, Lyall Bay.—Yes, the wees elf callfed “Billlkins” came flying in quite safeV ly. P’raps next time the camera will manage to catch a little fairy I know, eh? He does look the jolliest little person, with pictures on his pocket too 1 The story this time is better in parts , . . we just might use bits of both. Clarice Browne, 77, Apu crescent, Lyall Bay.—My very weeniest, all the fairies Want to'thank you for your song about your Dolly . . . it’s a darling wee rock-a-bye! Paddy ' Levin, Westella, Feilding.—. Thank you, Paddy, for your very sweet letter. That was just .splendid about the badge . . . wasn’t Daddy pleased? Margaret Campbell, 103, Main road, Trentbahr.—Your little stoll’s waiting this time, Margaret . . . one. for , your very own. And T expect we could find one for Denis,-too. One-and-a-half feels more like three when they’re wet miles don’t they? Thank you. dear, for the picture, and the jumbles. Barbara Smith. 1, Harbour View road, Northland. —Was Lorna Doone a lovely picture? It’s one of the very nicest of books 1 Did you see the little Lorna playing all alone in the wild mountain places? Sunday was just the day for your motor drive . . . wasn’t it good to haye that sun again ? • Annie or Jessie Baghuret, Wantwood, Martinborough.—Who’s the little girl who saw the pink-tipped daisies and the buttercups? Who’s the little girl who had no time to waste at me fancy dress hall? Who’s this little girl who tells us a great many things ■ and forgets to mention her name? Fred Butt.' Hau'tere Cross, Te Horo.— ’ Yes, and did you colour the convolvulus flower? Now what are you. going to put in the garden Dad has given you ?- If I were you'l think I’d sow things that have lots of bright colour . . . phlox, and larkspurs, and nemesia seeds, with a border of the dainty blue lobelia Geranium rut* tinge grow so c'-l'v. ■>'■ <■ a uuod background. Love to iVianaD.

Myra Post, 134. Oriental Bay, Wellington.—Your little letter found its way to us quite safely . . . thank you for your little poems. We will look for you on our Saturdays, Myra. P«EI?y McDonald, 171, Queen’s Drive, Lyall Bay.—Congratulations, Peggy, . on that very good result I ’Yes, sum'mer’s the .best time for ' holidays. You’ll have to. save, your Akatarawa. picnic for awhile yet. Thank you for' the story, little one. v Dorothy Maslen. 314.: Taranaki street. City.—lt was a very nice little girr who took all -that trouble to give us jumbles and riddles and verses in spite of being so 'busy with examinations. And did she make, her notepaper herself? Tommy McDonald, 171, Queen’s Wellington.—Elves and fairies are the lightest of little people, TSmmy, so I think your wee mushroom will hold you all right. Is seven a lucky number? They are seven sweet ones anyway. Aileen Keay, 39. Maida Yale road, Roseneath.—Good little cook 1 Was the apple pie pastry light as a fea'ther, and were the scones a lovely §oldy-brown ? Anyhow the apples idn’t burn to toffee or we woulah’t have the badge, would we?

Joyce Murdoch. 34, Shakespeare road, Napier.—l .wonder if this little fairy can fly such a long wfly? Because we would love to have a little girl called Joyce in our Fairy Ring every Saturday night with all her news from Napier. And Fairiel. sends her love to Phoebe too, and the wee Joan. ' Moira JonoS. Randwiok, Lower Hutt. —Yes, little vegetable gardener, it must be very difficult this terrible weatherl It has been just one big ' eclipse of the sun, hasn’t it, for weeks and weeks and weeks . . . when the sun really shines out I believe we’ll all need smoked glasses, we’re so used to grey days!-