THE BUSH PIG OR BOSCH VARK 



(Potamochcerus chceropotamus) 



Ingulubi of Zulus, Swazis and Amaxosa. 



The Bush Pig inhabits the wooded regions of South 

 Africa, chiefly on the eastern side from the south- 

 eastern part of the Cape Province to the Zambesi, 

 and thence north as far as the Sahara. In British 

 Central Africa the Bush Pigs are redder in hue 

 than the typical species, which is the kind so com- 

 mon in South Africa ; and to distinguish them 

 they have been named the Nyassa local race (^Pota- 

 mochcerus chceropotamus nyasee). 



Bush Pigs are found most abundantly in broken, 

 hilly, thickly-wooded and watered country. They 

 lie concealed during the daytime in the thickest 

 and densest parts of the bush and in reed beds, 

 and sally forth at night, usually in parties of eight 

 to a dozen individuals, in search of roots, bulbs 

 and fruits which constitute their chief diet. When 

 feeding they turn over the ground after the manner 

 of domestic pigs, only more thoroughly. A small 

 troop of Bush Pigs will turn over half-an-acre of 

 ground in a single night. 



When opportunity offers they greedily devour 

 eggSj young birds, reptiles, insects and carrion ; 



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