THE PIG 319 



ing, it gorges itself with carrion. The whole night 

 is passed in predatory raids of this sort, after which 

 the beast regains its lair at the dawn of day. 



"A wild sow's litter numbers from three to eight 

 little ones, sometimes called grice. They are white, 

 with tawny or brown stripes running lengthwise. 

 At the age of six months their hair becomes darker, 

 a sort of dirty gray, and they outgrow the name of 

 grice. When two years old their tusks begin to be 

 dangerous, and at an age ranging from three to five 

 years the animal attains its maximum size and 

 strength and is entitled to the name of wild boar. 

 After this, until twenty-five or thirty, the ordinary 

 limit of its life, it is called an old boar or an old her- 

 mit, on account of the isolation in which it lives. 

 Then the tusks become blunted and turn in toward 

 the eyes. 



1 ' Boar-hunting is not without its dangers. If the 

 boar finds itself hard pressed by the pack of hounds 

 pursuing it, the animal takes refuge in some dense 

 thicket of brambles and holly, and forces a passage 

 through the thorny rampart where no other would 

 dare to penetrate. Through the opening thus made 

 rush the dogs, vying with one another in ardor and 

 in barking. There are eight, twelve, fifteen of them ; 

 no matter, the boar awaits with firmness its numer- 

 ous assailants. Backing up against a gnarled stump 

 which protects it in the rear, it sharpens its tusks 

 and works its drivelling jaws. Its mane stands 

 erect on head and back ; its little eyes, inflamed with 

 fury, resemble two glowing coals. The boldest dogs 



