THE WHITE-LIPPED PECCARY. 
63 
and to be overcome with the greatest facility. On 
reaching the opposite bank they proceed directly on 
their course, and continue their march even through 
the plantations which, unfortunately for the owners, 
may happen to lie in their way ; and which they some- 
times completely devastate by rooting in the ground for 
their favourite food, or devouring such fruits as they 
find there. If they meet with any thing unusual on 
their way, they make a terrific clattering with their 
teeth, and stop and examine the object of their alarm. 
When they have ascertained that there is no danger, 
they continue their route without further delay ; but if 
a huntsman should venture to attack them when they 
are thus assembled in large numbers, he is sure to be 
surrounded by multitudes and torn to pieces by their 
tusks, if he is so unwise as to neglect his only chance 
of escape, which consists in climbing a tree, and thus 
getting fairly out of their reach. The smaller bands 
are by no means equally courageous, and always take 
to flight at the first attack. 
M. Sonnini relates that he was often, in the course 
of his travels in Guiana, surrounded by a troop of 
Peccaries infuriated with the havoc made by the mus- 
kets of himself and his companions. Mounted upon 
a tree he was enabled to observe their motions, and to 
notice the manner in which they encouraged by their 
grunts and by the rubbing of their snouts together 
those among them who were injured by the shots which 
were poured upon them from above. With erected 
bristles and eyes sparkling with rage, they still main- 
tained their ground ; and it was sometimes only after 
two or three hours incessant firing that they were at 
last compelled to quit the field of battle, and to leave 
the bodies of the dead to the mercy of the conquerors. 
These days of victory over the Peccaries, he adds, are 
always days of abundance for the traveller in those 
