THE WILD BOAR. 15 



It is amusing enough to watch them when returning 

 to an accustomed path whence they lately had been 

 scared. Eemembering their recent fright, they will 

 approach step by step ; then- stop and peer into the 

 distance ; advance again, and halt, and listen ; and it is 

 only when no sound or appearance whatever occurs to 

 alarm them, and they are perfectly reassured, that they 

 fearlessly stroll onwards as before. 



They will dail}^ return to the same bed which they 

 have made themselves in the wood ; and at sunset off 

 they are to the meadows. At night they are in the 

 fields busy among the potatoes and the corn ; and as soon 

 as day begins to break through the gloom, back they go 

 at once to the forest, and always at a trot. Acorns are 

 their daintiest food, and to get them they go far. \Mien 

 these are plentiful, the flesh is most palatable ; in oak 

 woods, too, these animals fatten best. From October to 

 December they are in prime condition ; and a sturdy 

 old boar that will tolerate no sharer of his feast and 

 moreover can enforce his will, soon grows so rotund and 

 portly that he cares little for locomotion ; and when he 

 has eaten his fill, lies down near at hand, in order, a 

 few hours later, to begin again. 



Such a strong fellow is a thorough egoist. If he 

 have abundance, though he cannot eat all, at least he 

 will try ; and should another approach, he faces about to 

 drive off the unbidden guest. He will stand right in 



