WAYS OF THE WILD BOAR 
trained to find truffles. This is in the direct line of natural ability; but 
pigs have more than once, since that famous instance first recounted in 
Denick’s ‘“‘Rural Sports” (London, 1801), been taught to act the part of 
a dog in bird shooting. They show surprising sagacity at this work and 
a great fondness for the sport; and some declare they exceed the pointer 
himself in “ pointing.” 
The wild hog loves moist ground and a chance to wallow in 
water, but takes care to indulge in these delights where cover 
is handy, to which he may retreat for his noonday = wryq 
nap, or at the threat of danger. In the wilderness Boar- 
he is by no means nocturnal, but where he is often disturbed 
soon learns to show himself as little as possible. This is 
especially true of old boars, 
which lead solitary lives for 
the most part, while the 
sows and young go about 
in “‘sounders” of a dozen 
or so individuals. Such 
bands are the scourge of | 
careless cultivators from 
Egypt to China, since they 
break through the flimsy 
fences and root up or 
trample down crops, espe- 
cially sugar cane, often 
coming miles from the hills 
to enjoy such a raid. In ———_ : 
India, indeed, they like to A CHARGING BOAR. 
settle down in the growing 
fields, especially at the breeding season, and have developed 
the habit of making huts. These may be constructed among 
sugar-cane or millet, or in the long grass at the jungle’s edge, 
and a Burmese ‘“‘pig camp” was thus described by a Field 
correspondent in 1900: — 
347 
