CHAPTER XXIV 



WILD BOAR HUNTING 



IT is not generally known that the islands of Santa 

 Cruz and Santa Rosa have colonies of wild pigs, 

 the males of which attain large size, and when 

 followed constitute game that provides no little excite- 

 ment. Several parties have enjoyed wild boar hunts 

 on Santa Rosa, using the rifle, the deep canons of the 

 island affording seclusion for some large specimens. 

 Adapted to their life in the steep cafions and on the 

 slopes of mountains they are very active, and the hunt- 

 ers on foot have to watch them with care, as the charge 

 of a wild boar down a mountain side is not all that 

 fancy paints it. 



How these pigs were introduced into these islands 

 is not known, but it is most likely that they are, like 

 the wild hog of Florida, the descendants of hogs 

 placed upon the islands years ago by the Spanish. I 

 have chased wild and marvellously fast burros on 

 Santa Catalina, and have often heard of the wild 

 cattle there, one of which charged a friend down the 

 side of Mount Orizaba, but it has never been my good 

 fortune to see the wild boars of the islands, though I 

 have looked for them in travelling over the interesting 

 and attractive island of Santa Cruz. To hunt on any 

 of these islands permission must be obtained, in this 

 instance from the Caire estate in Santa Barbara; for 

 permission to hunt on Santa Rosa the Vail estate must 



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