514 



THE DESCENT OF MAN. 



we have a part, specially modified for defense. With boars in 

 the prime of life (see flg. 65) the tusks in the lower jaw are used 

 for fighting, but they become in old age, as Brehm states, so much 

 curved inwards and upwards over the snout, that they can no 

 longer be used in this way. They may, however, still serve, and 

 even more effectively, as a means of defense. In compensation 



Fig. 



Skull of the Bablrusa Pig (from Wallace's 'Malay Archi- 

 pelago')- 



for the loss of the lower tusks as weapons of offense, those in 

 the upper jaw, which always project a little laterally, increase in 

 old age so much in length and curve so much upwards, that they 

 can be used for attack. Nevertheless, an old boar is not so dan- 

 gerous to man as one at the age of six or seven years.'" 



In the full-grown male Babirusa pig of Celebes (fig. 66), the 

 lower tusks are formidable weapons, like those of the European 

 boar in the prime of life, whilst the upper tusks are so long 

 and have their points so much curved inwards, sometimes even 

 touching the forehead, that they are utterly useless as weapons 

 of attack. They more nearly resemble horns than teeth, and 



8» Brehm, 'Thierlehen,' B. ii. s. 729-732. 



