THE WILD BOAR. 403 



lightness of their hind quarters, and the thinness of their 

 flanks, appear to disadvantage in the ham and the flitch." 



The wild boar is, doubtless, the origin of our domestic pigs. 

 In contrast with them the wild boar is more robust and bony, 

 and the snout is longer. Its general colour is rusty black, or 

 blackish brown -, the hide is very thick, and covered with long 

 coarse bristles. The tusks continue to grow during life, and 

 sometimes attain the length of eight or ten inches ; but those 

 of the female are smaller. The animal attains its full size in 

 five or six years, but the dimensions of individuals differ greatly 

 according to the quantity and kind of food they have generally 

 eaten. They feed on acorns, nuts, beech and maple mast, 

 chesnuts, grapes, the roots of fern and other plants, and they 

 also devour snakes, and the bodies of the slain left on the field 

 of battle. Even the carcases of their own species they do not 

 refuse 5 and much as we may be disposed at first to despise 

 such an animal, we must admit on reflection that it is one of 

 the most useful in both the natural and the domestic economy. 



When closely pressed by an enemy, the wild boar exhibits 

 great strength and ferocity : 



" On his bow back he hath a battle set 



Of bristly pikes, that ever threat his foes ; 



His eyes, like glowworms, shine when he doth fret ; 



His snout digs sepulchres where'er he goes : 

 Being mov'd he strikes whatever is in his way, 

 And whom he strikes his crooked tushes slay." 



(Venus and Adonis.) 



If one of the herd be hurt, the rest return to his assistance. 

 The old boars are the most ferocious, for it is only in defence 

 of their offspring that the sows are furious. Each sow pro- 

 duces from four to ten pigs, and retires with them from the 

 boar, who would eat them. She suckles them for three or four 

 months, but keeps them by her for a very long period, and 

 courageously defends them against the attack of the wolf or 

 other enemy. 



