NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



in case of attack. These holes are often enlarged 

 to suit the requirements of the animal. The sow, 

 for obvious reasons, prefers such a burrow to dense 

 scrub to bring forth her young. 



On the approach of evening the Wart Hogs 

 emerge from their lairs and feed throughout the 

 night and early morning, and sometimes during 

 the daytime in cloudy weather, and in localities 

 where they are unmolested by man. Their food 

 consists of grass, roots, bulbs, wild fruits, berries, 

 shoots and the soft bark of shrubs and branches. 

 They do not turn up the soil so freely as their Bush 

 Pig relatives, nor do they raid cultivated fields 

 except on exceptional occasions, for they have 

 such a wholesome dread of man that when he 

 appears and settles down in their habitat they 

 desert the neighbourhood. This is a wise pre- 

 caution, for, owing to the open nature of the 

 country they favour, it would be an easy matter 

 for a hunter with dogs to exterminate them. 



The Wart Hog when alarmed or pursued make 

 off at a fast trot, seldom breaking into a gallop. 

 The hole of an Aard-Vark is a possession highly 

 valued by a Wart Hog, and many lights take place 

 for them. 



When pressed by a hunter and his dogs, or by 

 a pair of Ratels or by Cape Hunting Dogs, the 

 Wart Hog makes for his hole, if he is fortunate 

 enough to possess one, and entering backwards is 

 ready to give battle to any enemy which might be 



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