SWINE AND THEIR FOREST COUSINS. 137 



to grow long in legs and snout, and his progeny will rapidly 

 degenerate toward the style of the " racers," " subsoilers," 

 " rail-splitters," and " jumpers," that range the "Western 

 forests. It has been observed that the wild sows of the 

 Oriental jungles keep their different litters together in a. 

 sort of corral in the woods ; and when any enemy attacks 

 them the mothers join in their defense. Our domestic 

 pig shows the same instinct under the same circumstances. 



7. "In India, boar-hunting is a favorite amusement. 

 The hunters are always armed with javelins, which they 

 throw at the animal as he runs away or rushes to the 

 charge. His assaults are frequently so furious that the 

 horses will not stand the shock, or, if they do, are often 

 thrown down and severely injured. An instance is re 

 corded in which a large and resolute boar, having been 

 driven by hunters into a plain, stood at bay, challenging 

 the whole party ; he charged all horses, which advanced 

 within fifty yards of him, with great ferocity, causing 

 them to rear and plunge and throw their riders, whose 

 lives were in jeopardy. Though many of the horses 

 were accustomed to the sport, none would sustain the 

 animal's charges, nor bring their riders within javelin-dis- 

 tance : at length he drove the whole party from the field, 

 and, gnashing his teeth and foaming, he made his way to 

 the jungle, where it was useless to pursue him further." 



8. The peccary is the smallest of the original wild 

 hogs, and it inhabits South America, Mexico, and is found 

 in Arizona and New Mexico. "It loves forests and 

 marshy grounds," says Mr. Jones, " but wanders wherever 

 food may be found, sometimes committing great depreda- 

 tions on fields of maize or potatoes. It delights to root 

 for bulbs, worms, or insects, but is said also to devour the 

 eggs of birds and reptiles, and to eat of almost anything 

 that it may find. The flesh of this animal is not very 



