IQO NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



down the river again, showing out their heads, were eight or 

 ten immense fellows, which I think were all bulls ; and about 

 one hundred yards below these in the middle of the stream 

 stood another herd of about eight or ten cows with calves 

 and two huge bulls. The sea-cows lay close together like 

 pigs; a favourite position was to rest their heads on their 

 comrade's sterns and sides. The herds were attended by 

 an immense number of the invariable rhinoceros birds, which 

 on observing me did their best to spread alarm throughout 

 the hippopotami. I was resolved to select, if possible, a first- 

 rate old bull out of this vast herd, and I accordingly 

 delayed firing for nearly two hours, continually running up 

 and down behind the thick thorny cover, attentively studying 

 the heads. At length I determined to go close in and select 

 the best head out of the eight or ten bulls which lay below 

 the cows. I accordingly left the cover, and walked slowly 

 forward in full view of the whole herd to the water's edge, 

 where I lay down on my belly and studied the heads of 

 these bulls. The cows on seeing me splashed into the water 

 and kept up a continual snorting and blowing till night set 

 in. After selecting for a few minutes I fired my first shot 

 at a splendid bull and sent the ball in a little behind the 

 eye. He was at once incapacitated, and kept plunging and 

 swimming round and round, wearing away down the pool, 

 until I finished him with two more shots." 



The Pig Pigs, hogs and peccaries form the next family 

 Family. w ith w hich we have to deal. The Wild Boar 

 which we may take first, is famous in classic history and 

 European legends, and Is celebrated both by ancient and 

 modern poets. He is, or was common to Europe, Asia and 

 Africa, and whether in the hunt or the banquet has always 

 been highly esteemed. The boar hunt is an exciting chase, 

 having all the elements of danger necessary to give it zest. 

 Boars have been known to kill not only dogs, but horses 

 and men with their powerful tusks, turning and rending them 



