THE BABIRUSA 461 



Skull of Babirusa. 



The BABIRUSA (Babirusa alfurus). 



f The pig-deer (to translate its Malay name) is not the least notable 

 of several remarkable animals restricted to Celebes and Boru ; the peculiar 

 form and position of the upper tusks of the boars rendering them almost 

 comparable to horns. Unlike other pigs, in which they curve upwards 

 from the sides of the lips, the upper tusks grow from the centre of the 

 muzzle, piercing through the skin, and as they are not worn by the 

 lower pair, attain extraordinary dimensions. Both pairs are quite 

 devoid of enamel ; the lower ones growing from the sides of the jaw in 

 the ordinary manner. The cheek-teeth are somewhat less numerous 

 than in ordinary pigs. In other parts of its organisation the babirusa 

 is, however, very like the latter, although the nearly naked skin is 

 remarkable for its coarse and rugged nature, being almost comparable 

 to the bark of a tree. The height at the middle of the back, the 

 highest point of the animal, is about 42 inches. Unlike the rest of 

 its tribe, the female babirusa produces only a pair of young at a birth, 

 which are of the same uniformly slaty hue as their parent. Babirusa 

 are confined to the islands of Celebes and Boru, where they afford good 

 sport to the natives, who drive them into nets and then spear them. 



Dr. Guillemard, in the Cruise of the " Marchesa" recorded the 

 following weights and dimensions : 



Weight, male, 128 Ibs. ; female, 85 Ibs. 

 Height at shoulder, 27^ ins. ; female, 25^- ins. 



