THE WILD BOAR. 109 



legs, and tail only remaining black, it is called grand 

 vieux sanglier and solitaire. 



The winter coat of the Wild Boar is quite different 

 to that which he wears in summer. The entire body in 

 winter is clothed with down, over which comes a thick 

 coat of coarse hair, forming a stiff mane of long bristles 

 down the neck and shoulders. This is all shed as 

 the summer approaches, when, with a smooth coat and 

 no bristles, he looks quite a different animal. To see 

 him at his best it is needless to say he should be 

 viewed in winter. His appearance is then extremely 

 picturesque, with his short round black ears standing 



GROUP OF WILD BOARS.* 



erect through his stiff grey mane ; high shoulders, 

 drooping towards the tail ; his black legs almost as 

 fine as those of a deer, denoting speed and activity ; 

 and a tail which he nervously twitches while champ- 

 ing his tusks and darting "mischief" in every look 

 of his small twinkling eyes. 



The tail, it should be observed, is never curled, as 

 frequently, though erroneously, rep resented in pictures, 



* From a carved horn in possession of the author. 



