THE WHITE LIPPED PECCARY. 237 



year. Mr Bennet mentions that the gland in this 

 species is inodorous.* 



They inhabit Paraguay, and are gregarious, 

 assemble in vast troops, generally led, it is said, 

 by some old male ; sometimes a thousand assemble 

 together, and stretch for a mile in length. Like 

 many of the ruminants, they obey the conduct of 

 the foremost. If any obstacle has to be crossed, a 

 deliberation ensues ; but as soon as one has passed, 

 the difficulty is overcome, and the same place is 

 chosen by the whole troop. They appear to be 

 excellent swimmers, and in this way a river is 

 crossed after the first has ventured on the plunge. 

 These bands, would attack a huntsman if in the 

 way, or molesting them. 



The Peccaries are said, by all those who have 

 partaken of them, to be excellent eating ; and 

 Sonnini frequently mentions the delicious repasts 

 in the forest. Being, in addition, animals so easily 

 tamed, and becoming so tractable, and feeding 

 upon a very small allowance, it is to be regretted 

 that some attempts have not been made for their 

 more general introduction. We are not aware that 

 they are even domesticated in America. 



For a time our climate would be unfavourable, 

 but by breeding they would harden in constitu- 

 tion, as those in the Society's Gardens have 

 proved. 



* Bennet, Gardens of Zool. Soc. 



