236 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



^ i ^^^_^^^__ 



Chase of the boar. 



stops till the hounds come up, and attempts to/ 

 attack them; but as these are perfectly aware of 

 their danger, they keep off, and bay him at a 

 distance. After gazing on each other, for some 

 time, with equal animosity, the boar again goes 

 forward, till he at length becomes perfectly fati- 

 gued, and refuses to proceed any further. The 

 dogs then attempt to close in upon him from be- 

 hind, and though many of the younger ones lose 

 their lives in consequence of their temerity, the 

 others keep him at bay till the huntsmen come 

 up, and dispatch him with their, spears. 



These animals are found in almost all the tem- 

 perate parts both of Europe and Asia, as well as 

 in some of the upper parts of Africa. 



In former times the wild boar was a native of 

 Britain, as appears from the laws of Howel Dda, 

 the famous Welsh legislator; who permitted his 

 grand huntsman to chase that animal from the 

 middle of November to the beginning of Decem- 

 ber. William the Conqueror also punished such 

 as were convicted of killing the wild boars in his 

 forests with the loss of their eyes. 



THE common or domestic hog is, generally 

 speaking, a very harmless creature, and preys on 

 no animals but either dead ones, or such as arc 



