NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



and will even kill and devour antelopes when lying 

 helpless with disease or wounds. Should culti- 

 vated fields be within a reasonable distance of their 

 bushy haunts, they will, sooner or later, make 

 nocturnal raids and do immense damage, for they 

 are exceedingly wasteful, damaging far more than 

 they actually eat. Owing to their secretive and 

 nocturnal habits, it is no easy matter to surprise and 

 kill them during these raids. They are particularly 

 fond of Indian corn or mealies when in the " green " 

 or milky condition. I have seen acres of mealies 

 absolutely ruined by these Bush Pigs. After a visit 

 or two by a troop of Bush Pigs, a field of mealies 

 looks as though a regiment of cavalry had ' ridden 

 through it. 



Night after night we have lain concealed in pits 

 or thick scrub watching for them with but in- 

 different success owing, probably, to their acute 

 sense of smell. Even with the most ingenious of 

 traps we seldom scored a success over these wily 



pigs. 



The Ostrich farmer also suffers at times from 

 nocturnal raids, for these pigs are exceedingly fond 

 of ostrich eggs. 



Sometimes during the early mornings and about 

 sundown, and on rainy days, they may be observed 

 feeding in localities where they are not often hunted. 

 Occasionally a large troop of fifteen or twenty are 

 met with. They are common in the dense, thorny 

 bush in the district of Port Elizabeth, from which 



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