THE SOUTH AFRICAN PHACOCHOERE. 85 



would have disappeared : the dentition would then have 

 been as represented in Fig, 41. The incisors were two 

 above and six below. The tusks were enormous. It would 

 seem that the presence of incisors is variable ; for in the 

 South African species they either do not exist or are unde- 

 veloped. Cuvier states that vestiges of them are some- 

 times found under the gum ; but in specimens from Cape 

 Verde the incisors are generally complete. 



Fig. 41 is one side of the upper jaw of the South 

 African Phacochoere : Fig. 42, one side of the lower jaw 

 of the Cape Verde species : Fig. 43, a lateral view of 

 the last molar tooth, which may be compared with the 

 molar of the elephant. 



The head of these animals is enormously large and 

 heavy ; the eyes are small and set high on the forehead, 

 which is depressed between them ; under each eye is a 

 large coarse fleshy lobe ; and a warty excrescence appears 

 on each side of the muzzle, between the eye and the 

 tusks. The muzzle is very broad, and the ears are erect. 



The South African Phacochcere 



(Phacochcerus JEthiopicus, F. Cuvier), 



or Vlacke Vark of the Cape colonists. The phacochoere 

 found in Guinea, at Cape Verde, and along the Senegal, 

 is regarded as distinct from the present species by F. 

 Cuvier, in consequence of the possession of incisors ; and 

 is termed by him Ph. Africanus. The range of the 

 South African phacochcere, or Vlacke Vark, does not 

 appear to be precisely determined ; formerly it existed 

 within the limits of the Cape colony, and still lingers on 

 the frontier districts, but is much more common in the 

 remoter latitudes. In the frontier districts these animals 

 seldom venture to seek their food during the day : but 

 in the countries inhabited by natives who are destitute of 

 the efficient arms of the colonists they are at all times to 

 be met, though their favourite feeding-times are early in 

 the morning, late in the evening, and even during the 

 night, if it be moonlight. When disturbed in its retreats, 



£ 3 



