THE WILD BOAR. 19 



They are fast, but not agile in their movements, and 

 their trot, though seemingly not fleet, enables them to 

 get over a considerable space in a very short time. 

 They do not turn easily, and hence there is no difficulty 

 in evading the charge of an irritated animal. 



In November the rutting season begins, and lasts four 

 or five weeks. At such times their neighbourhood may 

 be perceived by their peculiar smell, even from a 

 distance. Then is the time for battles, and wounds are 

 not seldom inflicted by the formidable tusks of a 

 jealous wooer. The rut over, the males leave the 

 troop and are off to the woods, where they remain in 

 solitary retirement. 



It is curious to see the wooing of such animal, and to 

 observe the way in which he gives token of his love. 

 There is little of endearment in his manner, nor does the 

 tender passion seem to have softened his rude nature 

 and made him gentle. Usually the lover endeavours 

 to make himself agreeable to the object of his choice, 

 and to ingratiate by tenderness, by a longing air, by 

 meekness and subserviency, that says, "I am your 

 slave." But with the wild boar there is none of this. 

 He reverses the whole system of love-making as ac- 

 cepted both by man and brute. Instead of caresses he 

 imparts blows ; he runs at her, to whom he would make 

 known his affection, and with his snout gives such 

 pokes in the ribs as almost to destroy her equilibrium. 



c 2 



