Vol. XXIII, pp. 49-52 April 19, 1910 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



THE WEST AFRICAN FOREST PIG (HYLOCHOERUS 



RIMATOR THOMAS). 



BY GLOVER M. ALLEN. 



\ ■ v 



Through the generosity of Col. William Barbour, the Museum 

 of Comparative Zoology has recently received a skin and skull 

 of the West African Forest Pig (Hylochoeriis rimator). I am in- 

 debted to the authorities of the Museum for permission to make 

 a brief report on this interesting specimen, the first of its kind, 

 apparently, to reach America. Reports had for some years pre- 

 viously been current of a " Giant Pig " inhabiting the forests of 

 Equatorial Africa, but it wsiS not until 1901 that actual speci- 

 mens were obtained from British East Africa and sent to the 

 British Museum. These, consisting of two skulls, an imperfect 

 skin, and a fragment of hide, were made the basis of the new 

 genus and species Hi/lochoerus meinertzhagenl by Thomas.* A 

 number of specimens of this species have now reached European 

 museums, so that it is fairly Avell known as regards external and 

 cranial characters. In 1006 Thomast described a second species, 

 H. rimator, from the Ja River, Cam croons, West Africa. This 

 was based on a single skull of a female specimen, and hitherto 

 no notice has appeared of the external characters nor have other 

 skulls apparently reached museums. The following notes are 

 therefore offered regarding the Forest Pig in the Museum of 

 Comparative Zoology, and are of ])articu]ar interest since the 

 specimen is a topotype, obtained at the Ja River, Cameroons, 

 by Mr. G. L. Bates, the same gentleman who procured the type 

 skull. 



Color. — The uiuzzle i;^ thickly covered with short black bristles some 

 10 mm. long, which increase in length posteriorly becoming abont 25mm. 

 in length on the cheeks. The entire edge of the ear is fringed with long 



* Thomas, O. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1904, Vol. 2, pp. 193-199, pis. 14, 15. 

 + Thomas. O. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 190(i, pp. 2, 3, figs. l,a,b. 



10— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XXIII, 1910. (49) 



