SUS INDICUS. 243 



parts of Bengal, and often turned the hogs out of them. They travel 

 great distances for their food in some parts of the country, and the early 

 traveller in Nagpore and other parts, often sees a herd returning to their 

 abode in the jungle an hour or so before suni'ise. The root of a pai-ticular 

 kind of sedge (Carex) is much sought for by wild hogs, and the edges of 

 tanks and jheels may be seen covered with their excavations. Though in 

 general almost entirely vegetable-feeders, at times a somewhat carnivo- 

 rous habit has been observed. Wild pigs have been detected feeding on 

 the carcase of a dead elephant in Southern India. 



Spearing the wild boar is one of the favourite sports of India wherever 

 it can be pursued, and is one of the most exciting pursuits, the dash of 

 danger intermingled with the excitement of the chase, giving it a zest 

 wanting in fox-hunting ; and the greater address and personal skill re- 

 quired giving it also the palm over tiger-shooting. The speed of the wild 

 hog for a short distance must be tried on a good horse before it can be 

 realized. In Madras and Bombay a long spear is used lancewise, but in 

 Bengal a short leaden-topped jobbing spear is preferred. Now and then, 

 as before stated, even the tiger has fallen a victim to the impetuous dash 

 of the wild boar, and the sudden onslaught of a wounded hog when 

 brought to bay, occasionally proves too speedy to be avoided even by a 

 timorous and active horse. 



Wild pigs are found over great part of Asia and the North of Africa, 

 as well as in Europe, but recent information is required on the particular 

 races inhabiting such extensive areas. 



Mr. Blyth has indicated a particular race from the Tenasserim pro- 

 vinces, like the Sus hidicus of India generally, " but one-fifth smaller in 

 linear dimensions, the tusks of the boar well developed." Another race 

 is named Sus zeylanensis by Blyth, from Ceylon. It has the vertex very 

 narrow, and the last molar very large. A skull measured 1G| inches ; 

 vertex 1 ; last molar If inches x xo^^^- "^^^ same zoologist has 

 described a small i-ace from the Andamans, as Sus cmdamanensis. 



Near this small Andaman race should come the next little-known pig. 



Gen. PoRCULiA, Hodgson. 



p -1 1 IT n 



Char. — Incisors - ; canines ; molars -. Canines small, 



6 1 — 1 7 — 7 



straight, scarcely cutting, but not oi-dinarily exserted from the lips ; the 



fourth toe on all the feet small and unequal ; tail very short. 



K 2 



