

CASSELL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



The ( 'ollured I Yeearv i< a unlive of the dense forests throughout I he greater part of South America, 

 and is usually met with in pairs, or small families. They take up their abode in hollow trees or holes 

 of the earth, where they seek a refuge from the pursuit of their enemies, of which, with the exception of 

 man, the jaguar is the most destructive. Plantations of maize, sugar-cane, and potatoes, often suffer from 

 their incursions. It is only when hard pressed that this peccary defends itself ; indeed, it displays nothing 

 of the sullen courage of the wild boar, but retreats on the appearance of danger, and precipitately sei ka 

 its hiding-place. 



"It is," says D'Azara, "domesticated with more facility than the wild hog, and becomes trouble- 

 some from its fa'.niliarity. It is said, and I believe it, that its flesh is good, but not so fat as that of 

 the hog ; when it is killed, however, the glandular oritice, 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 precaution." Tlie collared peccary is about three feet in length, and is distinguished by a stripe 



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'*: 



- 



Tin-: AIIYS.-IXIAN riiAeoc 111:1:1:. 



of white, or yellowish-white, passing from the withers down each shoulder, and meeting on the throat, 

 Its general colour is grizzled blackish-gray the bristles being ringed gray, straw-colour, and black. 



THE PHACOCHERE. 



THEIIE is a genus of animals* which so resemble the hog in manners form, and aspect, that, were 

 it not for the peculiarity of their dentition, they would necessarily be included in the genus Sua. 

 Instead, however, of presenting the ordinary structure, the grinders have a great analogy with those of 

 the elephant : they are composed of vertical cylinders of enamel inclosing an osseous deposit, and are 

 cemented together by cortical substance, or crusta peirosa. It is long before the root of these teeth 

 is perfected, and they advance in rotation from behind, pushing before them the first molars, which, 

 in old individuals, are found to be either greatly reduced, or to have entirely disappeared. It is 

 not till after ceasing to push forward that the roots become consolidated. With regard to number, 

 they appear to vai-y. 



* Phacochoerus. 



