THE PECCARY. 



61! 



hSUHs 



The structure of the teeth in this animal is very curious, and will repay examination. 

 Another species, the Halluf, or Haeoja (Pkacoehcerus celiani), belongs to the same genus. 

 This animal is sometimes known as the Ethiopian Wild Boar, or the Abyssinian Phacochoere. 



America possesses a representative of the porcine group in the Peccaries, two species of 

 which animals inhabit the Brazils. 



The common Peccary, or Tajacu, although it is of no very great dimensions, resembling 

 a small pig in size, is yet as terrible an animal as the Wild Boar of India or the Phacochoere 

 of Africa. Ever fierce and irritable of temper, the Peccary is as formidable an antagonist as 

 can be seen in any land, for it knows no fear, and will attack any foe without hesitation. Fear 

 is a feeling of which the Peccary is ignorant, probably because its intellect is not of a very 

 high order, and it is unable to comprehend danger. Although the Peccary is a very harmless 

 animal to outward view, being only three feet long and weighing fifty or sixty pounds, and its 



armature consists of some short 



tusks that are barely seen beyond 

 the lips, yet these little tusks are 

 as fearful weapons as the eight- 

 inch teeth of the vlacke vark, for 

 they are shaped like a lancet, being 

 acutely pointed and double edged, 

 so that they cut like knives and 

 inflict very terrible wounds. 



No animal seems to be capable 

 of withstanding the united attacks 

 of the Peccary, even the jaguar 

 being forced to abandon the con- 

 test, and to shrink from encounter- 

 ing the circular mass of Peccaries 

 as they stand with angry eyes and 

 gnashing teeth ready to do their 

 worst on the foe. In Webber's 

 Romance of Natural History there 

 is a very amusing account, too long 

 to be quoted in this place, of the 

 sudden consternation that was caxxsed during a bear hunt by the charge of a herd of Pec- 

 caries, which came rushing over the very spot where the deadly struggle was being waged, 

 scattering men, dogs, and bear in a common confusion. The singular courage of this animal 

 seems, however, to be based on ignorance, for after a herd of Peccaries have been frequently 

 assailed by the hunter, they appear to learn the power of their adversaries, and instead of 

 charging at their opponents, make the best of their way to some place of concealment. 



The" usual resting-place of the Peccary is in the hollow of a fallen tree, or in some burrow 

 that has been dug by an armadillo and forsaken by the original inhabitant. The hollow tree, 

 however, is the favorite resort, and into one of these curious habitations a party of Peccaries 

 will retreat, each backing into the aperture as far as he can penetrate the trunk, until the 

 entire hollow is filled with the odd little ci'eatures. The one who last enters becomes the 

 sentinel, and keeps a sharp watch on the neighborhood. The native luinters take advantage 

 of this curious habit to immolate great numbers of these animals. There are two methods of 

 Peccary killing, one by the gun and the other by the sword and pitchfork. 



In the former method the hunter takes up his temporary abode in some concealed spot 

 that commands the entrance of the tree or hole in which the Peccaries are known to sleep. 

 As soon as the sentinel has assumed its post, the hunter takes a careful aim at the forehead, 

 and kills it with a single ball. The wounded animal cautiously leaps from the cover, and its 

 place is immediately taken by its successor. The hunter instantly reloads his rifle, and kills 

 the second Peccary in like manner. In this way he will kill the entire family without giving 



V ECCABY.— Dlcotyles tirrqvatus. 



