THE PECCARY. 245 



Description, &c. 



followed several pigs with the oM sows, with an 

 intention of shooting one of them: but though 

 he failed in his design, their chase afforded him 

 singular pleasure. 



The heads of the females, which had before 

 seemed of a tolerable size, appeared on a sudden 

 to have grown larger and more shapeless than 

 they were. This he found to have been occasi- 

 oned by the fact that each of the old ones, during 

 its flight, had taken up and carried forwards a 

 young pig in its mouth; and this explained to 

 him another subject of surprise, which was, that 

 all the pigs he had just before been chasing with 

 the old ones had suddenly vanished. 



PECCARY; OR; MEXICAN HOG. 



THE peccary, at first view, resembles a small 

 domestic hog, particularly in the shape of it* 

 head, the length of its snout, and the form of it* 

 body and legs ; but, upon a nearer examination, 

 teveral striking differences appear. The body is 

 not so bulky ; the bristles are thicker and stronger 

 than those of the hog; and the animal has upon 

 its back a sort of navel, which exudes a liquor of 

 a strong musky smell. The ears are about two 

 inches and a half long, and erect; the eyes are 

 small; and one side of the lower lip is gene* 

 wily smooth, by the rubbing of the tusk of the 



