470 PECARY. 



tacking the hunters with great vigour, and often 

 destroying the dogs which are employed in its 

 pursuit. It feeds not only on vegetable sub- 

 stances, but occasionally on animals of various 

 kinds, and is particularly an enemy to snakes and 

 other reptiles ; attacking and destroying even the 

 rattle-snake, without the least dread or inconve- 

 nience, and dexterously skinning it, by holding 

 it between its feet, while it performs that opera- 

 tion with its teeth. It is also remarkable that the 

 common Hog, when translated to America, will 

 attack and destroy the rattle-snake. 



The Pecary is considered as an agreeable food ; 

 but the dorsal gland must be cut away as soon as 

 the animal is killed ; otherwise the whole flesh 

 would be infected with an unpleasant flavour. 

 Dr. Tyson has given an elaborate anatomical de- 

 scription of this species in the Philosophical Trans- 

 actions ; but, as has been already observed, under 

 the article Tapir, appears to have* entertained an 

 erroneous idea relative to the structure of the sto- 

 mudi. 



According to Mons. de la Borde, a correspondent 

 of the Count de BufYon, there are two distinct 

 races of the Pecary, one of which differs in being 

 of smaller size, and of a lighter or more ferrugi- 

 nous colour. 



