Information respecting Zoological Travellers, 401 



The collared or banded Peccari {Sus Tajussu, L., Dicoteles tor^ 

 quatus, F. Cuv.), the lesser of the two species, is generally met 

 with in small families of eight or ten, frequently only in pairs. They 

 are of a gray colour, that is, their hair, which is ringed alternately 

 "with black and yellowish white, appears gray at a short distance. 

 The belly is almost bare, and the bristles on the sides are rather 

 short, but they gradually increase in length as they approach the 

 ridge of the back, where they form a kind of bristly mane. From 

 the shoulders round the neck extends a narrow collar or band of 

 whitish hair. Their legs are short and the hoofs long ; they run 

 nevertheless with great swiftness, and when hunted by dogs, take 

 refuge in a hollow tree. They feed on seeds, particularly on those 

 of different species of palms, which they crack with their strong 

 jaws, and devour the shell as well as the kernel. They also turn up 

 the soil like the domestic hog to search for worms or insects, and to 

 procure them are often and more generally found in swampy situa- 

 tions : the assertions that they are only found in mountainous parts 

 of a country, and very seldom in lowlands or marshes, may be cor- 

 rect with regard to Paraguay, but not so as to Guiana, where we 

 have found them generally in marshy situations, wallowing like our 

 domestic hogs in quest of worms. They bear one j^oung at a time, 

 rarely two, which follow the dam until it can provide for itself. 



They swim across rivers, but seldom take to the water when pur- 

 sued by dogs, as they do not dive. Indeed they are awkward in 

 the water, and the Indian hunter is sure of success if he can 

 drive a herd into the river. They are then easily killed by stri- 

 king them a blow on the nose ; however, the Indian does not stop 

 to pick them up when thus killed ; he is well aware of the pecu- 

 liarity which they share with few animals, namely, that they float 

 on the water, while almost every other animal sinks : the Indian 

 therefore kills as many as he can, and picks them up when he is 

 no longer able to add to their number. 



When taken young they are easily tamed, and will follow any 

 one they take a liking to, like a dog; but are apt to bite and snap 

 at those to whom they take a dislike. They appear very fond of 

 being scratched ; and so pleasing must this operation prove to them, 

 that they gradually lie down on the ground and give signs of their 

 great delight by a low grunt. In a tame as well as in a wild state 

 they show the greatest aversion to dogs ; in a domesticated state 

 their bristles rise and they begin attacking the enemy with their 

 tusks. When hunted they make a desperate resistance, and severely 

 wound dogs that are not accustomed to hunt them. Those which 



Ann. Nat, Hist, Vol.5. No. 33. Aug, IMO, 2f 



