Hogs.] 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



95 



404, 405. — The PAL^OTHKBirM. 



la the larypsum-quarries near Paris and in various 

 parts of Fiance have been discovered the fossil rehcs 

 of a group of Pachydermatous animals, to which 

 Cuvier gave the title of Palaeotherium. Ten or 

 eleven species are recognised, varying from the size 

 of a rhinoceros to that of a hog. The most imme- 

 diate alliance of these fossil forms is to the Tapir, 

 and they, perhaps, take an intermediate station be- 

 tween tliat animal and the rhinoceros. The bones 

 of the nose prove that the Palceotheria must have 

 been furnished with a short proboscis ; the toes 

 were three in number on each foot : the dentition 

 consisted of 6 incisors in each jaw ; canines, as 

 usual ; and 7 molars on each side above and below. 

 Figs. 404 and 405 represent --espectively outlines 

 of the Palseotherium magnum and Palaeotherium 

 minus, as restored by Cuvier ; Figs. 406 and 407 

 represent the skeletons of the same animals ; Fig. 

 40« is an imperfect skull of Palaeotherium magnum ; 

 Fig. 409 shows the characters of the molar teeth ol 

 the upper jaw ; Fig. 410, the lower jaw and molar 

 teeth, imperfect. 



The restoration of the skeletons of these extinct 

 forms is one of the triumphs of science ; and, by 

 persons unacquainted with the law of harmonious 

 dependence which reigns throughout the structure 

 and organization of animal bodies, might be deemed 

 an improbability, or at least, an uncertain process : 

 not so — the bones of the feet, the teeth, the spine, 

 or of the limbs, are to the comparative anatomist 

 a foundation upon which he can rear a super- 

 structure, a clue to the recomposition of the fabric, i 

 Speaking of the accumulated stores of fossil relics 

 at his command, Cuvier thus writes : — " I at length 

 found myself, as if placed in a charnel-house, sur- 

 rounded by mutilated fragments of many hundred 

 skeletons of more than twenty kinds of animals 

 piled confusedly around me ; the task assigned to 

 me was to restore them all to their original positwn. 

 At the voice of comparative anatomy every bone 

 and fragment of a bone resumed its place. I can- 

 not find words to expres.s the pleasure I experienced 

 in seeing, when I discovered one character, how all 

 the consequences which I predicted from it were 

 successively confirmed. The feet accorded with 

 the characters announced by the teeth ; the teeth 

 were in harmony with those indicated previously by 

 the feet. The bones of the legs and thighs, and 

 every connectmg portion of the extremities, were 

 seen joined together precisely as I had arranged 

 them, before my conjectures were verified by the 

 discovery of the parts entire. Each species was 

 in short, reconstructed from a single unit of its com- 

 ponent elements." The relics of the Palaeotheria 

 are found mingled with those of many other extinct 

 forms in a stratum of fresh-water formation, as is 

 evidenced by the shells it contains : it is the first 

 of the great fresh-water formations of the Eocene 

 period of Lyell, a deposit in which nearly fifty extinct 

 species were discovered by Cuvier. We cannot 

 doubt but that, like the tapir and rhinoceros of the 

 present day, the Palaeotheria frequented the borders 

 of lakes and large rivers, feeding upon the leaves 

 and twigs of brushwood : there they lived and died ; 

 their dead carcasses drifted to the bottom of the lake, 

 swept off from the shore in seasons of flood, when 

 the swollen rivers cleared the adjacent lowlands of 

 hosts of dead, and perhaps also of the living, hurry- 

 ing them to destruction, and depositing their relics, 

 to be in other ages brought to light, the " reliquia 

 vetustioris aevi." 



Another fossil genus allied to the tapirs is termed 

 by Cuvier Lophiodon : not less than fifteen species 

 are determined ; and they are found in the same 

 fresh-water formation as the Palaeotheria. The 

 dentition of the Lophiodon differs from that of the 

 last-named animals, the lower jaw having only six 

 molars. The teeth in character approach those of 

 the rhinoceros. Fig. 411 represents a lower back 

 molar of the gigantic Lophiodon of Argenfon ; Fig. 

 412, an upper back molar; Fig. 413, a canine tooth; 

 Fig. 414, two incisor teeth : all of the same species. 

 With many essential parts of the osteology of these 

 extinct animals naturalists are as yet unacquainted ; 

 the bones of the nose, for example, and those of 

 the feet, are not recovered. The remains of the 

 Lophiodons found at Issel, Argenton, Bucksweiler. 

 Montpellier, Montabusard, &c., occur in beds of 

 fresh-water formation, but below those superficial 

 strata containing the bones of the Mammoth and 

 Mastodon. They are associated with the relics ot 

 forms of terrestrial animals of which we have no 

 living prototypes, and with those of crocodiles and 

 fresh-water tortoiaes. The antiquity of these beds 

 may be inferred from the fact that in most places 

 they are covered by strata of decidedly marine 

 formation, so that the Lophiodon existed and passed 

 away not only before the races had commenced 

 whose remains are found (and found only) in the 

 alluvial strata of the earth, but before the extinction 

 of still older races : they belong in fact to strata of 



our continent, over which, after becoming consoli- 

 dated, the sea has rolled, and remained long enough 

 to cover them with rocks of a new origin. 



The Family Sitidie, or the Hog tribe.— The animals 

 composing this family, of which the hog is the type, 

 are distributed over Europe, Asia, Africa, and South 

 America; it is indeed the only pachydermatous 

 group the members of which are thus distributed. 

 Viewed externally, the feet of these animals resemble 

 those of the ordinary Ruminants, and may indeed 

 be termed cloven ; but the distinction is evident 

 when we come to examine the bones. In the hog 

 every toe (there are four on each foot) has its own 

 metacarpal or metatarsal bone, and though the 

 outer toe on each side is shorter 1 han the two middle, 

 still it is as perfect in conformation. The external 

 similarity of the feet of the hog to those of the 

 cloven-footed ruminants, and their real distinction 

 did not escape Buffon, though at the same time 

 that celebrated philosopher was unable to discern 

 the true affinities of this animal, and its real place 

 in the scale of the Mammalia. In the peccaries, 

 hojvever, it must be observed that the metacarpal 

 bones of the two middle toes of the fore-limbs and 

 the corresponding metatarsal bones of the hind-lirabs 

 are consolidated into a sort of canon-bone, as in 

 ruminating animals, while at the same time the 

 stomach is divided into several distinct sacculi — an 

 additional point of structural approximation to the 

 Ruminants. 



The general external characters of the hog tribe 

 need not be recapitulated here ; all are familiar 

 with them, as displayed by the ordinary tenant of 

 the sty. 



415, — The Collared Pbccaet 



(Dicotyles torquatxts). The Peccaries are the only 

 indigenous representatives of the porcine group in 

 America ; the hog, which is now common there, 

 being of recent introduction, though it wanders in 

 wild herds. 



The peccary closely resembles the hog in form 

 and in the quality of the bristly hair which covers 

 the body. It differs, however, from the hog in den- 

 tition, the incisors of the upper jaw being four in- 

 stead of six, and the molars above and below on 

 each side six ; while the tusks, which are of mode- 

 rate size compared with those of the hog, instead of 

 taking a curve outwards, meet like ordinary canines ; 

 they are, however, sharp and effective weapons. 

 Fig. 423 represents a lateral view of the teeth of 

 both jaws; Fig. 424 those of the upper jaw in two 

 views, and Fig. 425 those of the under. The limbs 

 are more slender in proportion than in the hog, and 

 there are only three toes on the hinder feet, the 

 small outer toe being wanting. The tail is a mere 

 tubercle : beneath the skin on the top of the loins 

 is a large glandular apparatus, which pours out a 

 secretion of disgusting odour. In their voice, their 

 habits of rooting in the earth, the mode in which 

 when angry they erect the bristles of the mane, and 

 clash their teeth, they resemble their procine rela- 

 tive of the Old World. 



The collared peccary is a native of the dense 

 forests throughout the greater part of South Ame- 

 rica, and is usually met with in pairs or small fami- 

 lies : they take up their abode in hollow trees and 

 holes of the earth, where they seek a refuge from the 

 pursuit of their enemies, of which, man excepted, 

 the jaguar is the most destructive. Plantations of 

 maize, sugar-canes, and potatoes often suffer from 

 their incursions. It is only when hard pressed that 

 the peccary defends itself : indeeil it displays nothing 

 of the sullen courage of the wild boar, but retreats 

 on the appearance of danger, and precipitately seeks 

 its hiding-place. 



Azara states that the Guarinis term this species 

 Taytetou, and the white-lipped species Tagnicati. 

 It IS, he adds, domesticated with more facility than 

 the wild hog, and becomes troublesome from its fami- 

 liarity. " It is saia, and I believe it, that their flesh 

 is good, but not so fat as that of the hog; when 

 killed, however, the elandular orifice between the 

 haunches must be removed, since, if this be not 

 done, the flesh acquires a bad odour and taste. 

 Nevertheless the Indians eat it without this pre- 

 caution." The inferiority of the flesh of the pec- 

 cary to th»t of the hog, and its dorsal gland, will 

 combine to exclude it from the European farmyard. 

 The collared peccary is about three feet in length, 

 and is distinguished by a stripe of white or yellowish 

 white passing from the withers down each shoulder 

 and meeting on the throat. Its general colour is 

 grizzled blackish grey ; the bristles being ringed 

 grey, straw-colour, and black. 



The white-lipped peccary (^Dlcotyhs lahiatus) is 

 larger than the collared species and more robust; it 

 associates in vast troops directed by an old male ; 

 when attacked they surround the man, dog, or ja- 

 guar, and if there be no means of escape, their 

 enemy is soon torn to pieces. M. Schomburgk had 

 a narrow escape from an infuriated herd, the leader 

 of which he shot in the act of rushing at him; as 



the troop approached where he stood, the noise wa« 

 like that of a whirlwind through the bushes; " but 

 the peculiar growl and awful clapping of the teeth," 

 he adds, " did not leave me long in doubt as to its 

 cause : it was evident the herd had divided, and 

 were coming directly towards me : I know not yet 

 how I climbed the lower part of a mora-tree, when 

 by they rushed, their muzzles almost sweeping the 

 ground, and their rough bristles on the back stand- 

 ing erect : they might have numbered fifty. They 

 came and passed like a whirlwind ; and before I had 

 recovered from my astonishment, I heard them 

 plunge into the river and swim to the opposite 

 bank." Both species delight to wallow in the mire 

 and muddy pools, and readily take to the water, 

 swimming with great vigour. 



In captivity the white-lipped peccary hag ap- 

 peared to us to be more reserved and savage than 

 the collared species, and more ready to testify 

 by the clashing of its teeth its feelings of dis- 

 pleasure. 



416, 417. — The Babiboussa 



{Sus Babirussa, Linn. ; Babirttssa alfunu, F. Cuv.). 

 The terra Babiroussa means literally hog-deer, and 

 there is some reason to think that the ancients were 

 not altogether unacquainted with the animal. Pliny 

 notices a wild boar with horns on the forehead, 

 found in India ; and Cosmes, a writer in the sixth 

 century, uses the term hog-deer (xoip«Ao())os) as the 

 designation of an Indian animal : however this 

 may be, it is only recently that naturalists have be- 

 come well acquainted with it and its habits, though 

 its skulls have been brought over to Europe 

 in abundance by vessels trading among the Mo- 

 luccas. 



The Babiroussa differs somewhat in dentition 

 from the hog, the incisors being four above, instead 

 of six, and the molars five on each side in either 

 jaw. The upper canines or tusks of the male emerge 

 directly upward from their apparently distorted 

 sockets, and sweep with a bold arch backwards, 

 attaining to a very great length. The skin is thick, 

 coarse, gi-anular, of a blackish tint, and sparingly 

 beset with very short bristly hairs. The tusks of 

 the lower jaw are long, strong, and sharp, emerging 

 like those of the boar. The tusks of the upper jaw do 

 not pass out between the lips, but cut their way 

 through the skin, nearly halfway between the end 

 of the snout and the eyes. The tusks of the lower 

 jaw are formidable weapons. The male when adult 

 equals the largest hog ; the female is of much 

 inferior size, and destitute of the curled upper tusks, 

 or has them only rudimentary. 



The Babiroussa is found in the marshy forests in 

 the interior of Bourou, and other of the Molucca 

 islands, as Araboyna, and also Java, where it as- 

 sociates in troops. Its habits resemble those of 

 the wild hog, and it is restless and ferocious. Ac- 

 cording to Lesson it feeds chiefly upon maize, giving 

 preference to that grain beyond other articles of 

 diet. It is partial to the water, and swims with the 

 greatest ease, often crossing the straits betneen 

 adjacent islands without any difficulty. Some time 

 .since a pair of these animals were living and pro- 

 duced younsr in the menagerie of Paris. They were 

 fond of nestling under the straw, and when the male 

 retired to rest the female would cover him over 

 with litter, and then creep under the straw to him, 

 so that both were concealed. The following are 

 notes which we made from a young male babiroussa 

 living in the gardens of the Zool. Soc. : — This 

 animal is hog-like in its figure, and much resembles 

 a small pig of the Chinese breed. It is roundly 

 formed like a young well-bred hog, and the skin 

 lies close, giving a compactness to its appearance. 

 The head is small, and high between the ears ; 

 the snout is elongated ; the ears are very small, erect, 

 and pointed ; the eyes in their form and expression 

 resemble those of a stag ; the iris is brown ; the 

 skin, which is thinly clothed with short black bristly 

 hairs, is everywhere dotted with small granulations, 

 which spread and become rougher, coarser, and 

 more decided about the limbs and feet, and espe- 

 cially on the anterior part of the head and sides 

 of the face and under-jaw. Closely as the skin lies, 

 it becomes thrown into a series of regular and prettily 

 arranged wrinkles or furrows with the different move- 

 ments of the body, and varying in direction accord- 

 ingly. As the animal turns to one side, these fur- 

 rows are transverse ; in other attitudes they become 

 more or less oblique ; but none are to be seen when 

 the animal stands still or lies quietly on its straw. 

 The tail is rather long, slender, and tapering ; the 

 limbs are well proportioned, and do not appear 

 to be longer, in relation to the size of the body, 

 than in the hog ; the tusks of the upper jaw (in the 

 present individual) are at present small, but curved 

 back. 



In its state of captivity this young babiroussa 

 seems as contented as a pig in its sty, and it is not 

 only quiet, but disposed to familiarity, raising itself 

 up on its hind-legs, and putting its snout to the bars 



