THE RHINOCEROS. 753 



hunter instantly reloads his rifle, and kills the second Peccary in like manner. In this 

 way he will kill the entire family without giving the alarm. If the slain animal should 

 not leap from the hollow, but fall dead at its post, the carcass is pushed out of the 

 hole by the next in succession, who then assumes the part of sentinel without display- 

 ing any alarm. The other method requires the co-operation of two hunters, and is 

 managed by one getting above the mouth of the hole and pinning the foremost Peccary 

 to the ground with a pitchfork, while the other despatches it with a sword. 



The food of the common Peccary is of a very varied character, and consists of fruits, 

 seeds, grain, roots, reptiles, small birds and their eggs, and, indeed, of almost anything 

 vegetable or animal which can be swallowed. The flesh of the Peccary is not of much 

 value, as during many parts of the year it is wholly uneatable, on account of an odori- 

 ferous gland in the back, which taints the meat to such an extent that it cannot be 

 eaten. The flesh of the male is at all times very unpleasant, but that of the female is 

 in some months tolerably good, and has been compared to that of the hare. At the 

 best, however, it is dry and insipid, as there is no fat or lard to be found in the Peccary. 

 In all cases, the gland must be removed as soon as the animal is dead, for if it be per- 

 mitted to remain but for a single hour, its effects will be perceptible throughout the 

 entire body. 



The common Peccary is not so harmful to the agriculturist as its large relation, and as 

 it destroys such large numbers of reptiles, is probably rather beneficial than otherwise. 

 The color of the Peccary is a grizzled brown, with the exception of a white stripe that is 

 drawn over the neck, and has earned for the animal the name of the Collared Peccary. 



The TAGNICATE, or WHITE-LIPPED PECCARY, is larger than the preceding animal, 

 assembles in larger herds, is fiercer in its disposition, and works more woe to the farmer. 



The White-lipped Peccary derives its name from a band of white hairs that crosses 

 the upper jaw, and covers nearly the whole of the low^r. The color of the adult ani- 

 mal is black-brown, flecked with a gray grizzle, but when young it is striped after the 

 manner of the bosch-vark. A slight mane runs along its neck, and its ears are fringed 

 with long and stiff hairs. It is a most mischievous animal, as it makes long marches 

 over the country, ravaging the crops in its progress, and always choosing, with a per- 

 versely excellent taste, the best maize and grass. The cry of the Peccary is a sharp 

 shrill grunt. When angry, the Peccary clashes its teeth smartly together, producing a 

 sound which is recognizable at some distance, and is very useful to the hunters, as it 

 serves to give timely notice of the animal's approach. 



The generic name, Dicotyles, signifies " double-cupped," and is given to the animal 

 on account of the peculiar open gland upon the back. This species is a good swim- 

 mer, and often crosses rivers of its own accord. As, however, it loses all its offensive 

 powers while in the water, the Indians watch the opportunity, and by dashing among 

 the floating animals, kill as many as they .choose without any danger. 



SEVERAL species of the RHINOCEROS are still inhabitants of the north, and several 

 others have long been extinct, and can only be recognized by means of their fossilized 

 remains. Of the existing species, two or three are found in various parts of Asia and 

 its islands, and the remainder inhabit several portions of Africa. Before examining 

 the separate species, we will glance at some of the characteristics which are common 

 to all the members of this very conspicuous group. 



The so-called horn which projects from the nose of the Rhinocerous is a very re- 

 markable structure, and worthy of a brief notice. It is in no way connected with the 

 skull, but is simply a growth from the skin, and may take rank with hairs, spines, or 

 quills, being indeed formed after a similar manner. If a Rhinoceros horn be examined 

 the species of its owner is quite immaterial if will be seen to be polished and smooth 

 at the tip, but rough and split into numerous filaments at the base. These filaments, 

 which have a very close resemblance to those which terminate the plates of whale-bone, 

 can be stripped upwards for some length, and if the substance of the horn be cut across, 

 it will be seen to be composed of a vast number of hairy filaments lying side by side, 

 which, when submitted to the microscope, and illuminated by polarized light, glow 

 with all the colors of the rainbow, and bear a strong resemblance to transverse sections 

 48 



