Var. 3. With a small additional premolar close in front of the base of the usual first premolar on the right side of the lower jaw.

Hippopotamus terrestris, Linn. S. N. p. 174.

Tapirus americanus, Schreb. Säugeth. t. 319; Cuvier, Oss. Foss. iii. p. 277, t. 66-68; Blainv. Ostéog. Ongulig. t. 1, 5; P. Z. S. 1850, p. 102; 1851, p. 121; 1859, p. 51; 1860, pp. 181, 261. T. anta, Zimm.

T. terrestris, Gray, List Mamm. B. M. p. 184; Gerrard, Catal. Bones, B. M. p. 275.

T. suillus, A. Wagner, Schreb. Säugeth. iv. p. 777, t. 319; P. Z. S. 1860, p. 261.

Tapirete, Marcg. Bras. p. 229, fig.

Tapirou l'anta, Buff. H. N. xi. p. 444, t. 43.

Junior. Cabani éléphantipède, Geoff. Mus. Paris; Desm. N. Dict. H. N. p. 503.

The British Museum possesses six skulls of this species. Four skulls are of full-grown or nearly full-grown animals; one is young, with only four grinders; and another is young, with only the milkteeth.

These skulls show that this species is found in Brazil (where it was obtained by Mr. Miers), and also in Berbice and Demerara. The specimen from the latter country was obtained by Sir Robert Schomburgk.

The skull of the younger animal, which has only the four or five grinders developed (even when the other grinders are being developed), has the front edge of the hinder nasal aperture in a line with the hinder edge of the last well-developed grinder-that is to say, the fourth or fifth, as that tooth may happen to be the last welldeveloped one. A skull in this state is figured by Cuvier, Oss. Foss. ii. t. 2. f. 2; but the last or fifth grinder, canines, and cutting-teeth are represented more developed than they ought to be to agree with our specimens. This position of the aperture has been verified in a series of five skulls of animals with the teeth in five different states of development. The aperture is figured in its proper position in the adult skull.

In the skull of the nearly adult animal, in which the last or seventh grinder is not completely formed, but of a moderate size and nearly ready to pass through the gums, the front edge of the internal nasal aperture is in a line with the back edge of the sixth or penultimate grinder, as in the skulls of the adult animals which have cut the last or seventh grinder. The internal nasal aperture probably slightly changes its place when the animal increases in age, or is sometimes liable to variation.

In the skull of an adult (perhaps rather aged) animal, which has all the seven grinders well developed, in the British Museum, and which agrees with the adult skull of the common Brazilian Tapir, the front edge of the hinder nasal aperture is rather more forward than in the other adult skull; that is to say, the front edge is in a line with the middle of the sixth or penultimate middle grinder. The

skull figured by M. de Blainville in his 'Ostéographie,' t. 3, as that of Tapirus americanus agrees much better with this skull than with any of our skulls of T. americanus, as, in this skull, the face is more elongated and slender. The upper line of the central crest of the skull is regularly arched, and not arched in front and with a nearly straight line on the hinder part of the crown. It differs from the skull of T. laurillardi in the nasal bones being long, tapering, and acute, as in the skull of the normal T. americanus.

The length of the space between the hinder edge of the canine and the front edge of the first grinder in the figure agrees with that found in the T. americanus; that is to say, it is only rather longer than the length of the first two grinders.

There is a skull of an American Tapir in the Museum of the College of Surgeons which is rather more elongate than the rest of the skulls; and in this respect it bears some resemblance to the skull of Tapirus laurillardi.

2. TAPIRUS LAURILLARDI. (Fig. A.)

Skull with a high, regularly-arched crest over the brain-case; the nasal bones over the back of the orbit very short, broad, broader than long, and with rounded ends; the front edge of the cavity of the internal nostrils in a line with the middle of the last or seventh grinder in the complete series; the face rather elongate, the space between the canines and the grinders as long as the length of the outer side of the first three grinders; the front part of the nasal aperture suddenly contracted, and then continued as a narrow linear groove to the front of the nose; the occipital end of the skull triangular, arched, higher than broad; the lower edge of the lower jaw slightly arched, the front part rather produced and contracted; the grinders are rather small, the complete series being about inch shorter than in the former species, being 54 inches in T. laurillardii, and 5 in T. terrestris.

The skull here described was purchased of Mr. Brandt of Hamburg in 1852 as that of " Tapirus americanus from South America," without any more special habitat. I know that Mr. Brandt had a collector in Venezuela; so it may be he who "shot and skinned himself" that is, the animals from that country; and Dr. Seemann says he has seen many Tapirs in that province.

I have named this species after M. Laurillard, the Assistant in the Museum of Comparative Anatomy of Paris, who made most of the drawings of M. Cuvier's 'Ossemens Fossiles.' He was a most kind, attentive, modest man, who was always willing to give assistance to all students, and devoted much time to assist others in their labours; it is to his industry and accuracy that great part of the value of the 'Ossemens Fossiles' is to be attributed. I am personally indebted to him for great kindness and an unceasing desire to facilitate any researches that I might have in hand. He was one of those men who seem satisfied-so that the work of science progressed, any one might claim the reputation of doing it; and few men have done more for osteology and palæontology than M. Laurillard.

DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE TAPIRIDE.

[Nov. 14,

Fig. A.

Skull of Tapirus laurillardii.

This skull, in the length of the front of the face and in the comparative straightness of the lower edge of the under jaw, agrees in some respects with the skull figured by De Blainville under the name of Tapirus pinchacus (t. 3). It differs from the figure of that skull

Fig. B.

5

2

1. The nasal bones and upper part of the skull of T. laurillardi.

2. Internal nasal opening of T. laurillardi.

3. End of the upper jaw of T. laurillardi.

4. End of lower jaw of T. laurillardi.

5. Front of the upper jaw of Tapirus terrestris, showing the rudimentary premolar.

in the shortness and breadth of the nasal bones, and also in the front of the upper jaw not being so much produced, and in the lower edge of the lower jaw not so straight, and in the narrow linear form of the grooves between the maxilla forming the internasal cartilages. The position of the internal nostril on the palate at once separates it from the other American Tapirs.

3. TAPIRUS PINCHACUS.

"Neck round, without fleshy crest. Body covered with very close blackish-brown hair, which is darker at the tips. Chin with a white spot, which is elongated behind, and bent up to the middle of the lip."

Tapirus pinchaque, Roulin, Ann. Sci. Nat. xvii. 1829, p. 107; Wagner, Schreb. Säugeth. vi. p. 392; Goudot, Compt. Rend. A. S. Paris, xvi. 1843, p. 331.

T. pinchacus, Blainv. Ostéog. Ongulig. t. 1–5.

T. roulini, Fischer, Syn. Mamm. p. 606; Giebel, Säugth. p. 182. T. villosus, Fischer.

Hab. Cordilleras.

Shull, as figured by De Blainville, depressed behind, the crest being nearly straight over the brain-case; the nasal bone is elongate, acute over the hinder part of the orbit; the front edge of the cavity of the internal nostril is in a line with the back edge of the sixth or penultimate grinder in the complete series; the space between the canines and grinders is rather longer than the length of the outer side of the first two grinders; the occipital end of the skull low, broader than high; the lower jaw is nearly straight beneath.

I have never seen this species, and only know it from M. Roulin's description and the figures of the two skulls in De Blainville's 'Ostéographie.'

2. RHINOCHORUS.

The internasal cartilages ossified at the hinder part; the bony plate extending above nearly the whole length of the nasal, not so far below; foramen maximum subquadrangular, large. Occipital crest very broad, flat-topped. Forehead and crown broad. Lower jaw straight beneath.

Hab. Asia.

Rhinochorus, part., Wagner.

1. RHINOCHORUS SUMATRANUS.

The Kuda, Ayer.

B.M.

Fur very short, black; back and sides white.

Tapirus indicus, Desm. Mam. p. 411; F. Cuv. Oss. Foss. iii. p. 297, t. 69, 70; Giebel, Säugeth. p. 183; Blainv. Ostéogr. Ongulig.

t. 1-5.

T. sumatranus, Gray, Med. Repos. p. 1821.

T. malayanus, Raffles, Linn. Trans. xiv. p. 270; Griffith, A. K. iii. t.; Horsf. Zool. Journ., Zool. Java, t.; Gerrard, Cat. Bones, B. M. p. 276.

T. bicolor, A. Wagner, Schreb. Säugeth. vi. p. 400.

Cuvier (Oss. Foss.) states that the Malay Tapir was discovered in India by M. Duvaucel. It does not inhabit India; and M. Duvaucel only knew the animal from the drawing of it that was in General Hardwicke's collection, from a specimen obtained by Major Farquhar in Malacca, and from a skull which he obtained from the same source.