THE BABYROUSSA. 



509 



filling the curvatures of the socket, passes through a hole in the upper- 

 lip, and curls boldly over the face. The curve, as well as the compara- 

 tive size of these weapons, is extremely variable, and is seldom precisely 

 the same in any two individuals. The upper tusks do not seem to be 

 employed as offensive weapons ; indeed, in many instances they would 

 be quite useless for such a purpose, as they are so strongly curved, that 

 their points nearly reach the skin of the forehead. The female is devoid 

 of these curious appendages. 



From all accounts, the Babyroussa seems to be a very fierce and 

 dangerous animal, being possessed of great strength, and able to inflict 

 terrible wounds with the tusks of the lower jaw. A naval officer who 

 had experienced several encounters with this creature, spoke of it with 

 great respect, and seemed to hold its warlike abilities in some awe. The 

 adult male Babyroussa is considerably larger than the boar of England, 

 and the officer above mentioned affirmed that he had seen them as large 

 as donke3-s. It is a very good swimmer, and will take to the water for 

 its own gratification, swimming long distances over arms of the sea. 



Except in the island of Celebes and the adjacent islands, the Baby- 

 roussa has not been discovered either in the Moluccas or in New Gui- 

 nea, although its tusks have been seen in the hands of the Papuans. Its 

 habits are like those of other swine ; its gait is a quick trot, its gallop is 

 lighter than the wild boar's. The first pair brought to Europe was 

 given by Marcus, the Dutch governor of the Moluccas, to the French 

 naturalists Quoy and Gaimard. They seemed to feel the cold weather 

 exceedingly, shivering continually, and hiding themselves, even in 

 summer, in their straw : they both died of the change of climate. Others, 

 however, have been brought to London. 



THE WART-HOGS. 



The animals of this genus are grouped by Gray into a sub-family. 

 They are the most repulsive looking of all the Suidcs ; they are strongly 

 built, and remarkable for their hideous head, and the peculiar dentition. 

 The sides of the face bear three extraordinary protuberances, one pointed 

 and movable, at one time turned upward, at another time hanging be- 

 neath the eye : a second projects out laterally, while the third runs 

 along the under jaw up to the corner of the mouth. The eyes are small 

 and project like those of the hippopotamus, and are surrounded by a 

 Varge semicircular fold ; the ears are pointed, the snout broad and oval. 



