152 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



acrofs the moulders to the breaft, there is a band of 

 white ; its head is ftiort and thick ; it has two tufks in 

 each jaw; its ears are fmall and ere cl: ; and inftead of a 

 tail, it has a (mail flefhy protuberance, which does not 

 cover its pofteriors. It differs mo ft elTentially from the 

 Hog, in having a fmall orifice on the lower part of the 

 back, from whence a thin watry humour, of a molt dif- 

 agreeable fmell, flows very copioufly. In the Philofophi- 

 cal Tranfa£tions, Dr Tyfon has defcribed this orifice ve- 

 ry minutely, as well as fome other peculiarities in the 

 conformation of its ftomach and inteftines. 



Like the Hog, the Peccary is very prolific. The 

 young ones, if taken at firft, are eafily tamed, and foon 

 lofe all their natural ferocity ; but can never be brought 

 to difcover any figns of attachment to thofe that feed 

 them. They do no mifchief, and may be allowed to run 

 about at pleafure. They feldom flray far from home, 

 and return of their own accord. — When angry, they 

 grunt like the Hog, but much ftronger and harfher ; and, 

 when fuddenly alarmed, make a {harp noife with their 

 breath, and erect their bridles. 



The flefh of the Peccary, though drier and leaner than 

 that of our Hog, is by no meaqs difagreeable, and may 

 be greatly improved by caftration. When killed, the 

 dorfal gland mult be immediately cut off. If this opera- 

 tion be deferred for the fpace of half an hour, the flefh 

 becomes utterly unfit to be eaten. 



Although the European Hog is common in America, 

 and in many parts has become wild, the Peccary has ne- 

 ver been known to breed with it. They frequently go 

 together, and feed in the fame woods; but hitherto no 

 intermediate breed has been known to arife from their 

 intercoui?fe. 



