286 



ANIMALS OF 



the upper, and the two smallest from the un- 

 der. The jaw-bones of this extraordinary ani- 

 mal are found to be very thick and strong ; 

 from whence these monstrous tusks are seen 

 to proceed, that distinguish it from all other 

 quadrupeds whatsoever. The two that go 

 from the lower jaw are not above a foot long, 

 but those of the upper are above half a yard : 

 as in the boar, they bend circularly, and the 

 two lower stand in the jaw as they are seen 

 to do in that animal ; but the two upper rise 

 from the upper jaw, rather li ke horns than teeth; 

 and, bending upwards and backwards, some- 

 times have their points directed to the ani- 

 mal's eyes, and are often fatal by growing into 

 them. Were it not that the baby rouessa has 

 two such large teeth underneath, we might 

 easily suppose the two upper to be horns; and, 

 in fact, their sockets are directed upwards ; 

 for which reason, Dr. Grew was of that opi- 

 nion. But as the teeth of both jaws are of 

 fhe same consistence, and as they both grow 

 out of sockets in the same manner, the ana- 

 logy between both is too strong not to sup- 

 pose them of the same nature. The upper 

 teeth, when they leave the socket, immediate- 

 ly pierce the upper lips of the animal, and 

 grow as if they immediately went from its 

 cheek. The tusks in both jaws are of a very 

 fine ivory, smoother and whiter than that of 

 the elephant, but not so hard or serviceable. 

 These enormous tusks give this animal a 

 very formidable appearance; and yet it is 

 thought to be much less dangerous than the 

 wild boar." Like animals of the hog kind, 

 they go together in a body, and are often seen 

 in company with the wild boar, with which, 

 however, they are never known to engender. 

 They have a very strong scent, which disco- 

 vers them to the hounds ; and, when pursued, 

 they growl dreadfully, often turning back upon 

 the dogs, and wounding them with the tusks 

 of the lower jaw, for those of the upper are 

 rather an obstruction than a defence. They 

 run much swifter than the boar, and have a 

 more exquisite scent, winding the men and the 

 dogs at a great distance. When hunted close- 

 ly, they generally plunge themselves into the 

 sea, where they swim with great swiftness and 

 facility, diving, and rising again at pleasure ; 



Buffon, vol. xxv. p. 179. 



and in this manner they most frequently es- 

 cape their pursuers. Although tierce and 

 terrible when offended, yet they are peaceable 

 and harmless when unmolested. They are 

 easily tamed, and their flesh is good to be 

 eaten ; but it is said to putrefy in a very short 

 time. They have a way of reposing them- 

 selves different from most other animals of the 

 larger kind ; which is by hitching one of their 

 upper tusks on the branch of a tree, and then 

 suffering their whole body to swing down at 

 ease. Thus suspended from a tooth, they 

 continue the whole night quite secure, and 

 out of the reach of such animals as hunt them 

 for prey. 



The babyrouessa, though by its teeth and 

 tusks it seems fitted for a state of hostility, 

 and probably is carnivorous, yet, neverthe- 

 less, seems chiefly to live upon vegetables and 

 the leaves of trees. It seldom seeks to break 

 into gardens, like the boar, in order to pillage 

 the more succulent productions of human in- 

 dustry, but lives remote from mankind, con- 

 tent with coarser fare and security. It has 

 been said, that it was only to be found in the 

 island of Borneo, but this is a mistake, as it 

 is well known in many other parts both of Asia 

 and Africa, as at the Celebes, Estrila, Sene- 

 gal, and Madagascar. 1 " 



Such are the animals of the hog kind, which 

 are not distinctly known ; and even all these, 

 as we see, have been but imperfectly examined 

 or described. There are some others of 

 which we have still more imperfect notices ; 

 such as the waree, a hog of the Isthmus of 

 Darien, described by Wafer, with large tusks, 

 small ears, and bristles like a coarse fur over 

 all the body. This, however, may be the Eu- 

 ropean hog, which has run wild in that part 

 of the new world, as no other traveller has 

 taken notice of the same. The Canary boar 

 seems different from other animals of this kind, 

 by the largeness of its tusks; and, as is judg- 

 ed from the skeleton, by the aperture of its 

 nostrils, and the number of its grinders. I 

 cannot conclude this account of those animals 

 that are thus furnished with enormous tusks, 

 without observing that there is a strong con- 

 sent between these and the parts of genera- 

 tion. When castrated, it is well known that 



b Anderson's Natural History of Greenland. 



