412 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



distinct from each other, and not even resorting to one 

 place at the same time. 



It is said of the common species, that when one of the herd 

 is alarmed, he makes a signal with his feet, which is repeated 

 by all the rest ; they then are on their guard, and if at- 

 tacked, unite and surround the Jaguar, the Puma, or even 

 the man, who may so assail them, and will speedily destroy 

 him, unless he escape up a tree, or have the good fortune to 

 kill the leader, when the rest take to flight, which they will 

 not do, though many of the common herd be killed. This 

 report, however, though probably not altogether baseless, 

 seems exaggerated, as D'Azara's personal experience 

 evinced. It is said moreover, that the Jaguar, the great 

 predatory of the American forest, will follow these herds in 

 silence, and seize the opportunity of an individual being in 

 the rear to seize and kill it in an instant, when it immediately 

 takes to a tree for refuge till the herd have passed and left 

 their dead companion behind. If this trait of character 

 were sufficiently established, it would give rise to many 

 curious reflections. 



The white-lipped species, on the contrary, not availing 

 itself of the benefit of combined efforts, flies at the first 

 attack, and defends itself only in the last resort. It is also 

 less powerful than the other species. The other personal 

 characters which distinguish these two species will appear 

 by a description of each. 



The first species is sometimes called the Collared Peccary. 

 (Dicotyles Torquatus.) This animal, colour excepted, has all 

 the externals of a young Wild Boar. Its magnitude, how- 

 ever, does not exceed that of a middle-sized Dog. The 

 hairs are thick and bristly, and their large rings, alter- 

 nately black and white, give to the skin of the animal an 

 uniform division of these colours. We must, however, ex- 

 cept a white and narrow band which surrounds the neck, 

 and takes an oblique direction from the elevation of the 



