THE WART HOGS 1027 



more inclined outward. The mane is also wider and shorter, and there is a greater 

 development of hair on the top of the head and the ears. It has also been consid- 

 ered that it is only this species in which all the teeth, except the tusks and last 

 molars are habitually shed, but this is doubtful. The color of Pallas' s wart hog is 

 redder than that of its northern relative. 



Our accounts of the habits of the wart hogs are not so full as might 

 be desired, and there is some discrepancy between those given by 

 different observers. The statement made by Heuglin that these animals habitually 

 repose on swampy ground, or even in water, is, however, not borne out by later 

 writers. The northern species is found everywhere in Abyssinia, from the level of 

 the sea at Annesley bay to heights of nine thousand or ten thousand feet in the 

 highlands of the interior. Mr. Blanford writes, that ' ' its habits are very similar to 

 those of ordinary pigs. It lives among bushes or in ravines during the day, and 

 comes out to feed in the evening, still keeping much to bush jungle. The large 

 males are usually solitary; the younger animals and females live in small herds, 

 apparently not exceeding eight or ten in number. I never saw large 'sounders,' 

 such as are so commonly met with in the case of the Indian hog. It feeds much on 

 roots, which it digs up by means of its huge tusks. It also appears to dig large 

 holes, in which it occasionally lies; these are perhaps intended for the young. 

 Despite its formidable appearance, the Abyssinian wart hog is a comparatively-timid 

 animal, far inferior in courage to the Indian wild hog. Several which I wounded 

 showed no inclination to charge under circumstances in which an Indian pig would 

 certainly have shown fight. The flesh is savory, but dry and hard, even in com- 

 paratively-young animals." 



The foregoing opinion of the courage of these animals is confirmed by Sir 

 Samuel Baker, who states that it is but rarely that they ever charge. One kept 

 in confinement at Khartum on one occasion, however, broke out from its cage 

 and deliberately charged at Sir Samuel Baker's party, when its rush was 

 effectually stopped by having a huge rhinoceros horn hurled at its head. When 

 brought to bay by dogs, wart hogs make a determined stand, and inflict severe 

 injuries on their assailants. If excited, they carry their long tails stuck straight 

 upright. 



In Southeastern Africa where they are known to the natives by the name of 

 Indhlovudawani wart hogs, according to Mr. E. H. Drummond, are found on the 

 plains in light thorn jungles; and they are abundant in the districts around Mount 

 Kilima-Njaro. In those regions they generally occupy the deserted burrow of an 

 aard-vark, or other animal. Mr. Drummond states that wart hogs, occupying such 

 burrows, " have a most curious mode of exit when they bolt a dangerous one if 

 ytiu are not up to it. As they emerge from a hole, they turn a somersault on to the 

 back of it, instead of coming straight out like an ordinary animal, and as that is 

 just the spot where one would naturally stand, more than one man has had his legs 

 ripped open before he learned the wisdom of experience. ' ' The same writer mentions 

 that he has on more than one occasion seen a male wart hog walk deliberately 

 through a pack of large hounds without taking the slighest notice of them, so long 

 as they refrain from biting. Did, however, one bolder than the rest, venture to 



