70 THE WILD BOAR. 



THE WILD BOAR 



Is the original stock of our common swine ; and the differ- 

 ence between them is only such as may readily be supposed be- 

 tween the wild and the domesticated state. The wild is smaller 

 than the tame boar ; but his most distinguishing characteristics 

 are his formidable tusks, which in some are almost a foot long, 

 and exceedingly sharp : those of the under jaw are most to be 

 dreaded, as with them he does the greatest mischief. 



These animals, when young, keep together along with the old 

 ones ; when attacked, the strongest face the danger, and form 

 themselves into a ring, the weakest falling into the centre ; and 

 in this position, few beasts of prey dare venture to engage them. 



When the boar is arrived at a state of maturity, he ranges the 

 forest alone and fearless, dreading no single adversary. He 

 offends no animal whatever, but is at the same time a terror to 

 the fiercest of those that would offer him any injury. 



The hunting of the wild boar, although exceedingly danger- 

 ous, constitutes one of the principal amusements of the great, in 

 those countries where he is to be found. But the dogs used for 

 this sport, should be of a slow, strong, and heavy kind. 



When the boar is roused, he moves forward at a slow pace, 

 and, but little afraid of his pursuers, often turns and waits until 

 the dogs come up, and offers to attack them : the wary animals, 

 however, fully sensible of the ferocity of the enemy with whom 

 they have to contend, draw back, arid decline the engagement. 

 The boar then again proceeds slowly, and the dogs renew the 

 pursuit, which ia thus continued with many intervals. At last, 

 when the boar begins to be fatigued, the dogs rush in upon him 

 from behind. Many of those which are young and inexperienced, 

 lose their lives in the attack ; but others that are older, and well 

 trained to the sport, hold him at bay, until the hunters come up, 

 and kill him with their lances and spears. - 



In Europe, the wild boar is much less common than formerly; 

 and in a century or two, will probably be extinct : but there ex- 

 ists, in the -hottest parts of Africa, a fierce and formidable race 

 of these animals, called the wood swine, which will attack a man 

 on horseback, if he venture to approach one of them ; and first 

 breaking the legs of the horse with his tusks, will quickly de- 

 stroy both him and his rider. 



In the year 1765, a boar of this species was sent to the Prince 

 of Orange, from the Cape of Good Hope. His eyes were so 

 situated, as to prevent his seeing around him, being interrupted 

 by the prominences of his face; but his senses of hearing and 

 smelling were extremely acute. His food was principally grain 

 and roots ; and he always supported himself on the knees of Lis 



