Tin: //:. i/;}-. 



615 



The structure of the teeth in this animal is \ei\ curious, and will repay examination 

 s. the II \i.i i i . or 1 1. \ 1:0.1 \ , I'hnitK'hn-ni.* tilinnh, iN-longs to the same genus. 

 This animal is sometimes known as the Kthiopiaii Wild lo;ir, or the Abyssinian PhacocluBre. 



AMERICA possesses a representative of the porcine group in the Peccaries, two species of 



which animals inhabit the Bra/.iK 



The common Pi < \i:\ . or T \.i u. i . although it is of no very great dimensions, resembling 

 a small pii: in si/--, is \.-i as terrible an animal as the Wild Hoar of India or the Phaoochcare 

 of Africa. V.\< -r lierce and irritable of teiujx-r, the Peccary is n.s formidable an antagonist as 

 can IK* stt*n in any land, for it knows no fear, and will attack any foe without hesitation. Fear 

 is a feelini: of which the Peccary is ignorant, probably l>ecause its intellect is not of a very 

 hLdi onler. ami it is unable to comprehend danger. Although the Peccary is a very harmless 

 animal to outward view. U-im: only three feet long and weighing fifty or sixty pounds, and it.s 



armature consists of some short 

 tusks that are Imn-ly s-en l>e\ond 

 the lips, yet these little tusks are 

 as fearful weapons as the eight- 

 inch teeth of the vlacke \ark, for 

 they an* sha]K*d like a lancet, 

 acutely pointed and double - 

 so that they cut like knives and 

 intlict very terrible wounds. 



No animal seems to IN- ca] table 

 of withstanding the nnit*d attacks 

 of the Peccary, even the jaguar 

 being forced to abandon the con 

 test, ami I-. shrink from ncoinit.-r 

 ing the circular mass of Peccaries 

 as they stand with angry eyes ami 

 ^- ji^fc p gnashing teeth ready to do their 

 worst on the foe. In WeblN-r's 

 Romance of Natural History there 

 is a very amusing account, too long 

 to be quoted in this place, of the 



sudden consternation that was caused during a l>ear hunt by the charge of a herd of Pec- 

 caries, which came rushing over the very spot where the deadly struggle was being waged, 

 scattering men, dogs, and bear in a common confusion. The singular courage of this animal 

 seems, however, to be based on ignorance, for after a herd of Peccaries have been frequently 

 assailed by the hunter, they appear to learn the power of their adversaries, and instead of 

 charging at their opjtonents, make the iN-st of their way to some place of concealment. 



The usual resting-place of the Peccary is in the hollow of a fallen tree, or in some burrow 

 that has been dug by an armadillo and forsaken by the original inhabitant. The hollow tree, 

 however, is the favorite resort, and into one of these curious habitations a party of Peccaries 

 will retreat, each backini; into the aperture as far as he can penetrate the trunk, until the 

 entire hollow i.s filled with the odd little creatures. The one who last enters becomes the 

 sentinel, and keeps a sharp watch on the neighborhood. The native hunters take advantage 

 of this curious habit to immolate great numlx-rs of these animals. There are two methods of 

 Peccary killing, one by the -run and the other by the sword and pitchfork. 



In the former method the hunter bikes up his temporary abode in some concealed spot 

 that commands the entrance of the tree or hole in which the Peccaries are known to sleep. 

 As soon as the sentinel has assumed its post, the hunter takes a can-fill aim at the forehead, 

 and kills it with a single ball. The wounded animal cautiously leaps fnmi the cover, and its 

 place is immediately Taken by ii> successor. The hunter instantly reloads his ritle, and kills 

 the second Peccary in like manner. In this way he will kill the entire family without giving 



PKCCAKY.-l**yfa> lorywftiu. 



