THE PECCARY. 125 



marshy place, around some lofty and venerable 

 tree. The lightning seems to have a preference 

 for these isolated oaks and maples, the giants of 

 the Texan forests ; and they are constantly to be 

 found riven by the electric current, and stretched 

 along the banks of the rivers, where they lie covered 

 with creepers and wild vines. These trunks, which 

 very commonly measure a dozen yards in circum- 

 ference, are usually hollow, and serve the peccary for 

 a noctui'nal refuge. Every evening, they retire into 

 the trunk of a tree, which will sometimes hold 

 thirty of them. Each enters the tree backwards, 

 and the last remains with his head outside, as if to 

 mount guard. 



The Texan planters wage a deadly war with the 

 peccaries, not only for the damage which they cause 

 to the fields, and the injuries which they inflict upon 

 their dogs, but for the danger which they them- 

 selves incm- in hunting them. As soon, therefore, 

 as one of them has discovered a tree which is fre- 

 quented by the peccaries, he makes arrangements for 

 a species of hunt, which is highly amusing, though 

 not destitute of peril. The best time for this is 

 when the rain is falling, and there is a thick fog, 

 for then the peccaries do not quit their lair. Half 

 an hour before dawn, the sportsman, armed with his 

 rifle and good store of cartridges, places himself in 

 ambush near the tree, ready to fire as soon as 

 the light permits him. As soon as he can see 



