MAMMALIA OF SOMALI LAND. 469 



much less than those of the Indian boar. The upper tushes are 

 massive, being solid ivory, for about 9 inches of their length, and 

 4| inches in circumference at the gums. They Aveigh 10£ oz. and 

 1 oz. respectively. The two lower ones about 2 h oz. each. The lower 

 tushes are rather thicker than those of the Indian boar. The sow's 

 tushes present as good an appearance as an Indian boar's. Her upper 

 tushes being very like the lower tushes of the latter, and projecting 

 3 to 4 inches from the lip. The wart hog takes its name from the 

 conical protuberances of skin on its face, which in the boar are 

 four in number symmetrically placed, one on each side of the face 

 between the eye and the mouth, and one on each side of the head 

 behind the eye ; the latter are the longest. These so-called warts 

 when cut off close to the head appear to be only knobs of skin quite 

 devoid of blood vessels. The sow I don't think has any of these 

 warts. The boar has a long mane of coarse bristles from the top of 

 the head along the back ; those on the neck and withers measure quite 

 15 inches in length. The head is broad and large. The large 

 boars are found solitary and also with the sounders, which do not 

 appear to be generally composed of many individuals. Eight I think 

 was the largest number I saw together. They have a habit of 

 carrying their tails bolt upright at right angles to their bodies 

 when on the move. I watched a sow and a well- grown young one 

 that had not been disturbed for more than half a mile leisurely 

 proceeding across some open ground, and they never once lowered 

 their tails. The wart hog feeds and moves about at all times of the 

 day. He could be ridden and speared in a great many places, though 

 I believe he does not show much fight. I was told, though I did not 

 see it myself, that they take to holes in the ground, backing in stern 

 foremost. Whether they make these burrows themselves or not, I don't 

 know. The Somalis being staunch Mahomedans look on the wart 

 hog with disgust, and when you shoot one they won't touch it, so you 

 have to cut off the head, carry it home, and do the cleaning of it 

 yourself. The same prejudice prevents your having bacon for 

 breakfast or trying what wart hog pork is like. 



Hycena crocuta 

 Is the commonest hyaena in Somali land. It is a much more 

 powerful animal than the striped hyaena. It is yellow in colour, the 

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