WILD BOAR. 
ary, the male follows the female, and remains 
with her about thirty days in the thickest and 
most soHtary retreats of the forest. He is 
then most ferocious ; and, if another male en- 
deavours to occupy his place, becomes per- 
fe£^ly furious : they fight, and not unfrequently 
kill each other. The sow never rages, ex- 
cept when her young are attacked: and, in ge- 
neral, it may be remarked, that the males of 
most wild animals during the rutting season, 
and the females after they bring forth, become 
more or less savag-e. 
o 
Hunting the Wild Boar was formerly a very 
favourite diversion even in England. The 
animal flies slowly; and, frequently turning, 
defends itself against the dogs, and often kills 
many of them. The snout of an old Wild 
Boar is the only part which is esteemed : but 
the ancients castrated the young Boars, when 
they could contrive to take them from their 
mothers ; and, returning them to the forests, 
they grew fat, and made far better pork than 
that of the domestic Hog. 
These animals, though very numerous, and 
diffused over Europe, Asia, and Africa, existed 
not 
