328 A WILD-HOG HUNT IN TEXAS. 



of the head and the peculiar chevon-like markings of tho 

 body, convinced me it was the " Banded Rattle-snake" 

 (Crotalus Duressus.) It was slowly gliding out into some 

 open ground, with the intention of crossing to a thicket 

 upon the other side. I had disturbed it from the log, 

 where it had no doubt been sunning itself; and it was now 

 making away from me. 



My first thought was to follow the hideous reptile, and 

 kill it ; but reflecting that if I did so I should expose 

 myself to the view of the turkeys, I concluded to remain 

 where I was, and let it escape. I watched it slowly 

 drawing itself along for this species makes but slow 

 progress until it was near the middle of the glade, when 

 I again turned my attention to the birds, that had now 

 advanced almost within range of my gun. I >was just 

 getting ready to fire, when a strange noise, like the grunt 

 of a small pig, sounded in my ears from the glade, and 

 again caused me to look in that direction. As I did so, 

 my eyes fell upon a curious little animal just emerging 

 from the bushes. Its long, sharp snout its pig-like 

 form the absence of a tail the high rump, and whitish 

 band along the shoulders, were all marks of description 

 which I remembered. The animal could be no other than 

 a peccary. As I gazed upon it with curious eyes, another 

 emerged from the bushes, and then another, and another, 

 until a good-sized drove of them were in sight. 



