INDIAN SHOOTING 



237 



the tapir is by no means uncommon in the interior of the Tavoy and 

 Mergui provinces. I have frequently come upon its recent foot- 

 marks, but it avoids the inhabited parts of the country. It has 

 never been heard of north of the valley of the Tavoy river.' The 

 tapir is naturally, all the world over, a very shy, retiring animal. 

 but it is capable of being tamed when taken young, and of showing 

 great attachment. It is not found in India proper, but is occasion- 

 ally come across in Burmah. 



XV. WILD BOAR (Sus indicus) 



It is a maxim in India that the only sportsmanlike way of 

 killing boar is with horse and spear, and therefore as these 

 volumes treat principally of those beasts which fall or should 

 fall to the rifle, this pluckiest of all beasts must be dismissed 

 with a very brief notice. 



Occasionally there may be some justification for shooting 

 boar, but as they travel great distances, none ought to be shot 

 within forty miles of rideable ground. 



Several cases are on record in which an old boar has beaten 

 off a tiger, and some in which the latter has been killed by a 

 boar. The boar's extraordinary activity and sharp tusks make 

 him no mean adversary, and his short neck makes it difficult 

 for a tiger to seize it and give it that fatal wrench with which 

 he likes to polish off his victims. 



XVI. THE PIGMY HOG (Porcula salvania] 

 Native names: ' Sano-bane /, ' Nepal ; ' Chota soar,'' Hindi 



This tiny little wild pig is found in the Sal forests of Nepal 

 and Sikkim. It has the reputation of going in herds like the 



