120 Quadrupeds. 



THE WILD BOAR, (Sus scrofa,) 



INHABITS, for the most part, marshes and woods, and is 

 of a black or brown colour : his flesh is very tender and 

 good for food. The Wild Boar has tusks, which are 

 sometimes nearly a foot in length, and have often proved 

 dangerous to men, as well as to dogs in the chase. His 

 life is confined to about thirty years ; his food consists of 

 vegetables; but when pressed by hunger, he devours 

 animal flesh. This creature is strong and fierce, and un- 

 dauntedly turns against his pursuers. To hunt him is 

 one of the principal amusements of the grandees in those 

 countries where he is to be found. The dogs provided 

 for this sport are of the slow, heavy kind. Those used for 

 hunting the stag, or the roebuck, would be very impro- 

 per, as they would too soon come up with their prey, 

 and, instead of a chase, would only furnish an engage- 

 ment. Small mastiffs are therefore chosen ; nor do the 

 hunters much regard the goodness of their nose, as the 

 Wild Boar leaves so strong a scent that it is impossible 

 for them to mistake his course. They never hunt any 

 but the largest and the oldest, which are known by 

 their tusks. When the boar is reared, as is the expres- 

 sion for driving him from his covert, he goes slowly and 

 sullenly forward, without any indication of fear, not 

 very far before his pursuers. At the end of every half- 

 mile, or thereabouts, he turns round, stops till the 

 hounds come up, and offers to attack them. These, on 

 the other hand, knowing their danger, keep off and bay 

 him at a distance. After they have for a while gazed 

 upon each other, with mutual animosity, the Boar again 



