68 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



horse in a wild state scours the plains of Tartary and South 

 America ; it requires but a struggle to break in the most 

 spirited. It may be laid down as an axiom, that the ani- 

 mals of" whose services man stands most in need are, each 

 in its way, those whose nature most readily induces them to 

 submit to his dominion, nay, even to court his friendship. 

 Some we can tame, and only tame ; others we can educate. 



The wild hog was once common in our island, and it 

 is almost surprising, considering the passion for the chase 

 which seems to be part and parcel of our English tem- 

 perament, that this animal is not re-established in some 

 of its old haunts, the ])arks and forests of nobility. In 

 India, indeed, the chase of the wild boar is one of the 

 field-sports to which our countrymen are enthusiastically 

 devoted ; nor is there any reason why it might not be re- 

 vived in England. 



The wild hog is still common in the forests of Germany, 

 France, and other portions of Europe, and extends also 

 through Asia and Africa; if indeed the species is posi- 

 tively identical — a point which there is some reason to 

 question. At all events slight differences are observable 

 between the Indian wild boar and the present breed of 

 the German forests ; and Sonnini expresses a doubt as to 

 the identity of the Egyptian and European wild race. 



In no essential point does the wild race of Europe 

 differ from our domestic breeds ; the snout however is 

 more elongated, and, as might be expected, the contour 

 of the frame is more gaunt and bony. The ears are short 

 and erect, the tusks large, and the bristles long and 

 coarse ; the general colour is rusty black or blackish 

 brown, more or less brindled in patches. After the age 

 of three years the wild boar leads a solitary life in the 

 forest, fearless of every foe and confident in his weapons, 

 which, added to his great strength, render him a formid- 

 able antagonist. It is not, however, until the age of five 

 or six years that he attains to his full dimensions, and the 

 duration of his life is from twenty-five to thirty years. 

 The females with their young associate in herds for the 

 sake of mutual protection : on the approach of an enemy 

 the young are placed in the centre, the old ones 



