43§ 



UNGULATES. 



then kept of moderate size by mutual attrition, but that, for some reason or other, 

 they have become of no benefit to the animal, and have assumed a monstrous 

 growth like that occurring in the lower tusk of a wild boar when the corresponding 

 upper one has been accidentally broken off. 



The natives of Celebes organise carefully-planned hunts for the 

 capture of the babirusa, an account of one of these being given by Dr. 

 Guillemard in the following words : — " The animals being driven into a curved, with 

 a V-shaped opening and flanked by netting, we had plenty of time to wait before 

 the sport began, and meanwhile the natives arranged themselves at their posts. 

 One stood at the door of the curral, ready to close it directly any animal rushed 

 in ; others took up their places on either side of the wide entrance, while the 

 remainder crouched in front of the long net at intervals of a few yards, each 

 grasping his spear, and hidden from view by a huge Livistonia (a kind of palm) 



frond. We had not 

 long been settled 

 before a peculiar 

 barking grunt in the 

 distance announced 

 the arrival of the 

 first victim. Every- 

 one was instantly 

 motionless, and 

 directly afterwards 

 a dark object dashed 

 up at great speed 

 and buried itself in 

 the net a short way 

 down the slope. 

 There was a short 

 struggle, and in less 

 than five minutes 

 the captive, a full- 

 grown female babi- 

 rusa, was quietly reposing on her back, with her legs tied together with rattan, and 

 we were once more in ambush for the next comer. We were hardly quiet before 

 the same peculiar sound was heard rapidly approaching, and the next moment a 

 magnificent old boar babirusa rushed past within five yards of us, and plunged into 

 the net between our tree and the entrance to the curral. His long tusks became 

 entangled in the meshes, and the natives ran up to spear him. Just at this moment, 

 however, he broke loose, and, turning on his antagonists, scattered them in all 

 directions. It was a most determined charge, and, as we were unable to fire for 

 fear of hitting some of our own men, it might have proved a serious affair for 

 the native he singled out." After some trouble the animal was, however, finally 

 despatched with a spear-thrust ; but, " even with four spears buried in his body, 

 the old boar died game, striving to the very last to get at his antagonists." 

 1 We are indebted to Mr. Murray and the author of the book named for the use of this figure. 



skull of babirusa. (From Guillemard's Cruise of the Marchesa. 



