A WILD HOG-HUNT IN TEXAS. 329 



The rattle-snake, on seeing the first one, had laid his 

 head flat upon the ground; and evidently terrified, was 

 endeavoring to conceal himself in the grass. But it was 

 a smooth piece of turf, and he did not succeed. The pec- 

 cary had already espied him ; and upon the instant his 

 hinder parts were raised to their full height, his mane 

 became rigid, and the hair over his whole body stood erect, 

 radiating on all sides outwards. The appearance of the 

 creature was changed in an instant, and I could perceive 

 that the air was becoming impregnated with a disagree- 

 able odour, which the incensed animal emitted from its 

 dorsal gland. Without stopping longer than a moment, 

 he rushed forward, until he stood within three feet of the 

 body of the snake. Bancroft UbMTJ 



The latter, seeing he could no longer conceal himself, 

 threw himself into a coil and stood upon his defence. His 

 eyes glared with a fiery lustre ; the skir-r-r of his rattles 

 could be heard almost incessantly ; while with his upraised 

 head he struck repeatedly in the direction of his enemy. 

 These demonstrations brought the whole drove of pecca- 

 ries to the spot, and in a moment a circle of them had 

 formed around the reptile r that did not know which to 

 strike at, but kept launching with his head recklessly in 

 all directions. The peccaries stood with their backs highly 

 arched and their feet drawn up together, like so many 

 angrf cats, threatening and uttering shrill grunts. Then 



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