62 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



thing of the sullen courage of the wild boar, but retreats 

 on the appearance of danger, and precipitately seeks its 

 hiding-place. (Fig. 27.) 



Azara states that the Guaranis term this species Tay- 

 tetou, and the white-lipped species Tagnicati. It is, he 

 adds, domesticated with more facility than the wild hog, 

 and becomes troublesome from its familiarity. " It is 

 said, and I believe it, that their flesh is good, but not so 

 fat as that of the hog; when killed, however, the glan- 

 dular orifice between the haunches must be removed, 

 since, if this be not done, the flesh acquires a bad odour 

 and taste. Nevertheless the Indians eat it without this 

 precaution." The inferiority of the flesh of the peccary 

 to that of the hog, and its dorsal gland, will combine to 

 exclude it from the European farm-yard. The collared 

 peccary is about three feet in length, and is distinguished 

 by a stripe of white or yellowish white passing from the 

 withers down each shoulder and meeting on the throat. 

 Its general colour is grizzled blackish gray ; the bristles 

 being ringed gray, straw-colour, and black. 



The white-lipped peccary {Dycotyles lahiatus) is larger 

 than the collared species and more robust ; it associates 

 in vast troops directed by an old male ; when attacked 

 they surround the man, dog, or jaguar, and, if there be 

 no means of escape, their enemy is soon torn to pieces. 

 M. Schomburgk had a narrow escape from an infuriated 

 herd, the leader of which he shot in the act of rushing 

 at him : as the troop approached where he stood, the 

 noise was like that of a whirlwind through the bushes; 

 but the peculiar growl and awful clapping of the teeth," 

 he adds, " did not leave me long in doubt as to its cause : 

 it was evident the herd had divided, and were coming 

 directly towards me : I know not yet how I climbed the 

 lower part of a mora-tree, when by they rushed, their 

 muzzles almost sweeping the ground, and their rough 

 bristles on the back standing erect : they might have 

 numbered fifty. They came and passed like a whirl- 

 wind ; and before I had recovered from my astonishment, 

 I heard them plunge into the river and swim to the 

 opposite bank." Both species delight to wallow in the 



