48 Q^U ADRUPEDS. ^"-^ 



THE 



BABYROUESSA, or INDIAN HOG. 



THIS animars figure, on the whole, moft referrbles that of tl c 

 hog; has four cutting teeth in the upper, fix in the lower jaw. 

 Its legs are longer, its body nnore flender than a hog j its hair is finer, 

 bja'ckilh, rather refembling wool than briftles, but along its back are fome 

 v;eak bridles ; its tail is long, and alfo tufced with the fame, often 

 twifted i ears fmall, eredl, Iharp pointed. What principally diftinguifh 

 it, are four tufks j the two largeft (about twelve inches long) from the 

 upper, the two fmalleft (about eight inches) from the under jaw. The 

 jaw-bones of this extraordinary animal are very thick and ftrong, from 

 whence thefe monftrous tufks proceed; they bend circularly, the two 

 lower like thofe of the boar, the two upper rife from the upper jaw, 

 rather like horns than teeth ; and, bending upwards and backwards, 

 fometimes have their points directed to the animal's eyes, and fometimes 

 grow into them. The tufl^s in both jaws are of a very fine ivory, 

 fmoother and whiter than that of the elephant, but not fo hard or 

 fcrviceable. 



Thefe enormous tufks give this animal a very formidable appearance j 

 yet it is thought to be much lefs dangerous than the wild boar. They 

 go together in herds ; often in company with the wild boar, with which, 

 however, they are never known to engender; have a very ftrong fcent, 

 which difcovers them to the hounds; and, when purfued, they growl 

 dreadfully, often turning back upon the dogs, and wounding them with 

 the tufks of the lower jaw, for thofe of the upper are rather an obftruc- 

 tion than a defence, They run much fwifter than the boar ; have a 

 more exquifite fcent, winding the rnen and the dogs at a great diftance. 

 \V'hen hunted clofely, they generally plunge themfelves into the fea, 

 where they fwim with great fwiftnefs and facility, diving, and rifing 

 again at plcafure ; fierce when offended ; peaceable and harmlefs when 

 iinmolefted. They are eafily tamed ; their f^efh gocd, but faid to 

 putrefy in a very fhort time. They rcpofe themfelves by hitching one 

 of their upper tufks on the branch of a tree ; live upon vegetables and the 

 leaves of trees ; never break into gardens, like other fwine ; inhabit 

 pear Amboyna and Celebes, 



T H S 



