MA MM A L I A — B ABIROUSSA. 



299 



ed, and become T>rikl in many places ; and resemble European wild boars, 

 with this difference, that the lody is shorter, the head larger, and the skia 

 thicker; and domestic hogs, in warm climates, are all black like wild boars. 

 The fecundity of the hog is very great; instances are known of individuals 

 producing three hundred and twenty-five young in twenty litters, and two 

 hundred and five in twelve litters. The English variety of the hog some- 

 times Aveighs twelve hundred pounds. There are many other varieties. 



THE BABIROUSSA, OR INDIAN HOG.i 



All naturalists have regarded this animal as a kind of hog, though it has 

 neither the heaJ, s! ape, bristles, nor tail of a hog. Its legs are longer and 

 its muzzle shorter. It is covered with soft and short hair like wool; and 

 its tail, which tapers to a fine point, is terminated by a tuft of the same; 

 its body is likewise not so thick and clumsy as that of the hog ; its ears are 

 sho t and pointed ; its skin is black, and furrowed with wrinkles and 

 creases ; but the most remarkable character, and what distinguishes it from 

 all other animals, are four enormous tusks, or canine teeth ; the teeth, the 

 two shortest of which sho^t out of the lower jaw, like those of the boar ; the 

 two others, which come from t'le upper jaw, pierce the cheeks, or rather the 

 upper part of the lips, and rise crooked almost to the eyes. These tusks 

 are of a very beautiful ivory, n.uch smoother and finer, but not so hard as 

 that of the elephant. 



These quadruple and enormous tusks give these animals a very formida- 

 ble appen ranee ; they are, howpver, less dangerous than our wild boars. 

 Tlsey go, like them, in herds ; they have a very strong smell, by which they 

 are easily discovered, nnd hunted with good success. They grunt terribly, 

 defend themselves, and wound their enemy with their under tusks ; for the 

 upper are rather of disservice than of use to them. Although wild and fero- 

 cious as the boar, they are tam.ed with much ease; but their flesh, which is 

 very good food, putrefies in a very short time. As their hair is fine, and 

 their skin delicate, it is soon penetrated by the teeth of the dogs, who hunt 



' Sas bab]/russa, LiN. 



