THE WILD BOAR. 



33 



fatal wound as the object of his hatred was tram- 

 pled under the pointed hoofs. 



It is a popular belief that Pigs are never in- 

 jured by the poison of snakes ; and it is custom- 

 ary to turn a drove of these animals into a dis- 

 trict infested by such reptiles, wliich in a short 

 time is usually completely cleared of them. It is 

 well known that Pigs will destroy any Rattle- 

 snakes they meet with, and this serpent is cer- 

 tainly provided with one of the most deadly of 

 poisons, and it is a reptile not at all likely to sub- 

 mit to an attack from any quarter without using 

 all its powers of defense. 



It is supposed that the Pig receives the bite of 

 the enraged snake on his cheek, where the fat 

 and gristle are thickest, and that, as there is lit- 

 tle or no blood in that part, the poison is not car- 

 ried through the system, so that the animal expe- 

 riences no ill effects from the virus. Whenever 

 a serpent is spied, the Pig, with erected bristles, 

 rushes right upon it, and, indifferent, to the for- 

 midable fangs that are perhaps sticking in its 

 own hide, bites the reptile in pieces, and then de- 

 vours it. 



In the southern part of the American Conti- 

 nent a species of small Pig is found, generally 

 known as the Poocary. It differs in several par- 

 ticulars from the members of the family SuidcB, 

 and with some other allied species has been sep- 

 arated into another family. 



These little animals generally go in troops, and 

 never hesitate a moment to attack any thing they 

 may meet, and so fierce and determined are their 

 charges that both man and beast are obliged to 

 flee before them, or else run the risk of being 

 gashed fearfully with their short, sharp tusks, 

 that cut like razors. They are rather pretty- 

 looking creatures for Pigs, the neck and shoul- 

 ders being streaked with white. 



In India the Wild Boar is a great trouble to 

 the people because it destroys the farm crops 

 especially the plantations of sugar-cane. The 

 English residents have done much toward their 

 extermination. English sportsmen are fond of 

 hunting them with the spear, mounted on horse- 

 back. 



On the Continent of Europe the Wild Boar dis- 

 putes the mastery of the forests with the great 

 Wolves that prowl amidst tlieir recesses. With 

 young porkers the Wolves have not much diffi- 

 culty, and easily dispatch them, provided they 

 find them stra3'ed away from the protection of 

 the grim father of the family, or their but little 

 less savage mother. 



It is only in the depth of winter, when the 

 ground is buried in snow, and they are half mad- 

 dened by long fasts, that the Wolves, banding to- 

 gether, attempt to overcome the grizzly old patri- 

 arcli that at other times they fear to approach. 

 Should they discover at such a season some soli- 

 tary old Boar roaming by himself, the howling 

 pack immediately follow on his track, bringing 

 others of their fellows to join them in the chase, 

 and, emboldened by numbers, hurry after their 

 wished-for prey. 



Well does he know the whining cry, which 

 echoes and re-echoes through the gloomy woods ; 

 casting quick glances on every side from his 

 blood-shot eyes, he trots rapidly over the snow, 

 seeking some thicket where he can give battle to 

 his pursuers. He appreciates the danger that 

 menaces him, and is fully aware that, should they 

 overtake him in the open woods, their numbers 

 would be more than a match even for his great 

 strength; and when the shrill howls break clearer 

 on the frosty air, as the eager Wolves draw 

 nearer, he selects the matted base of some fallen 

 tree, where the roots, twisting about in fanciful 



