Tapestry

(tap'es-tre.) [From Fr. tapisterie.] A curious production of the loom, in which the finest pictures may be represented. It consists of a kind of woven hangings of wool and silk, often enriched with gold and silver, representing figures of men, animals, landscapes, historical subjects, . This species of covering for walls was known among Eastern nations from a very remote era. During the 15th and 16th centuries the art was practised with great skill at Arras, in Flanders. Colbert, the celebrated minister of Louis XIV., established Gobelin's celebrated manufactory of T. in the neighborhood of Paris (see GOBELINS).-T. carpet. See CARPET. Tape-worm, (-würm.) (Zool.) See CESTOIDE. Tapioca, (tap-e-o'kah.) (Bot.) See MANIHOT. Tapir, (ta'pur.) (Zool.) A pachydermatous animal, fam. Rhinoceridæ, having a bulky form, with moderately long legs; the forefeet four-toed, the hind-feet three-toed; the skin thick, the hair short; the tail very small; the neck thick; the ears short; the eyes small; the muzzle elongated; the nose prolonged into a short, flexible proboscis (Fig. 624), which, however, does not terminate in an organ of touch and prehension, like that of the elephant. The T. ofS.America, Tapirus American us, is abt. the size of an a , skin brown and nearly naked, and the neck fleshy, form-Fig. 624. ing a sort of crest on the HEAD OF THE TAPIR. nape. The Indian Tapir, T. Indicus, of Sumatra, is larger than the American species. [s. 878]