FAMILY SUHXE, OR PIG TRIBE. 329 



living in families, and taking up their abode in caves or crevices 

 in the sides of rocks ; they live upon the young shoots of shrubs, 

 and upon herbs and grass ; and they are playful in their habits, 

 and docile and familiar in captivity. 



295. The family SUID^E, or Pig tribe, is the only group of 

 Pachydermata which is widely distributed over the globe; 

 members of it being found native in Europe, Asia, Africa, and 

 South America. The animals composing it are distinguished by 

 the conformation of their feet, which have four toes inclosed in 

 separate hoofs, the two central toes being much the largest, and 

 divided by a deep cleft. In the common Hoy, each toe has its 

 own distinct metacarpal or metatarsal bones ; but in the 

 Peccaries, the metacarpal or metatarsal bones of the two middle 

 toes are consolidated into a single c^wow-bone, which resembles 

 that of the Ruminants ( 254) ; and the stomach of these 

 animals is partially divided into distinct sacculi, thus presenting 

 another link of connexion between the two groups. The charac- 

 ters of the teeth in this family have been already mentioned 

 ( 290) ; but it may be added that the canines are usually very 

 long, and project forwards as tusks, which are used by the animal 

 as weapons of defence, and for rooting up the ground. The Boar, 

 or Wild Hog, which is distributed through the forests of Europe, 

 Asia, and Africa, the Phacochcere, or Vlacke Vark of the Cape 

 Colonists, the Babyroussa of the Indian Archipelago, and the 

 Peccaries of South America, closely agree in their general habits 

 and dispositions. Their food is naturally vegetable, and consists 

 of the stems and roots of plants, together with acorns, beech- 

 mast, and similar materials. They are for the most part inoffen- 

 sive when not attacked, but display great courage, and even 

 ferocity, when brought to bay ; whilst the length of their tusks, 

 and the great strength of the muscles of the neck by which the 

 head is thrown upwards, or violently tossed from side to side, 

 render them very formidable antagonists. When taken young, 

 however, they are easily domesticated, and even become trouble- 

 some from their familiarity; but they commonly show a disposi- 

 tion to escape from the control of Man into their native haunts, 

 and to resume their original habits. This disposition is displayed 



