206 



THE STORY OF THE WILD BOAR. 



irritated. The young has the body marked with stripes of a reddish color 

 running lengthwise. 



The lower tusks of the male wild boar, wdiich project about three inches 

 from the jaw^, and are kept with edges as sharp as razors by wear against 

 those of the upper jaw, are most formidable weapons, capable of ripping open 

 a horse at a single stroke. Both the European and the Indian species are 

 among the boldest and fiercest of all animals, charging men, horses, or ele- 

 phants time after time without a moment's hesitation, and in spite of the 

 most desperate wounds. Indeed, the injuries that a wild boar will sustain 



EAST AFRICAN WILD HOG. 



without lo'SS of life are perfectly marvelous. I once killed an old boar, In the 

 skull of which the broken extremity of the tusk of another boar was firmly 

 embedded, with its point penetrating into the brain-cavity a short distance 

 behind the left eye. 



Although the speed of a wild pig is considerable, yet it cannot be main- 

 tained for any long distance, and accordingly, either a boar or a sow may 

 be easily overtaken by a well-mounted horseman after a comparatively short 



