Pec 
arid yet in it's formation is very diftin^l from it, 
is a native of South America; and found there in 
fuch numbers, that herds of feveral hundreds 
together are feen grazing in the woods. 
At firft view,, the Pecary refembles a fmall 
hog ; the form of it's body, the fliape of it's head, 
the length of it's fnout, and the formation of it's 
legs, are entirely fimilar : however, on a clofer in- 
fpeftion, the differences begin tO appear; the body 
is lefs bulky; the legs are not fo long; the briftles 
are thicker and ftronger than thofe of the hog, re- 
fembling the quills of a porcupine rather than 
hair; and, inftead of a tail, it has only a flefhy 
protuberance, which does not even cover it's pof- 
reriors. But it's moft remarkable peculiarity, 
and in which it differs from every other quadru- 
ped, is, that it carries a lump on it's back refem- 
bling the navel in other animals, which feparates 
a liquor of a very rank hneli. 
The Pecary is the only creature having thofe 
kind of glands which discharge the mufky fub- 
ftance on that part of it's body. Some have thefe 
du£ls under the belly, and others under the tail ; 
but this animal, by a conformation peculiar to it- 
felf, has them on it's back. This lump, or na- 
vel, is placed on that part of the back which is 
Over the hinder legs ; and it is in general fo clofely 
covered with briftles, that it cannot be feen unlefs 
they be drawn afide. This being done, a fmall 
fpace appears, befet with a few fine fhort hairs 
only; and in the middle it rifes like a lump, in 
which is an orifice large enough to admit a com- 
mon goofe-quiil. The hole or bag is not more 
than one inch in depth ; and round it, under the 
Ikin, a number of fmall glands are arranged, which 
diftil a whitifli liquor, in colour and confiftence 
refembling that procured from the civet. Per- 
haps this analogy between the two animals in- 
duced Dr. Tyfon to fay, that it fmelt agreeably 
alfo, like that perfume. However, Buffon abfo- 
lutely denies this circumftance; and if additional 
authorities were neceffary to confirm this great 
naturalitl's affertion, they might eafily be pro- 
duced. 
The colour of the body of this very fmgular 
animal is grifly, the briftles being variegated with 
black and white; the belly is almoft bare; and 
the briftles on the fides gradually increafe in 
length as they approach the ridge of the back, 
where they are about five inches long. Between 
the ears there is a large tuft of briftles, chiefly 
black ; the ears, which are about two inches and a 
half long, ftand upright ; and the eyes refemble 
thofe of the common hog, except that they are 
fmaller. From the lower corner of the eye to the 
fnout it ufually meafures about fix inches; and 
the fnout itfelf, though fmall, refembles that of 
the hog. 
Between the Pecary and the common hog 
fome anatomical differences appear in the internal 
ftrufture. Dr. Tyfon was led to imagine that it 
had three ftomachs; whereas the common hog 
has but one: however, in this he was deceived; 
as Daubenton has plainly evinced, that the fto- 
mach is only divided by two clofings, which feem 
to alter it's appearance, though there is no con- 
fonrxation that prevents the food in any part of it 
from going or returning to any other. 
This animal is capable of being tamed like the 
hog; and has nearly the fame habits and natural 
inclinations. It feeds on the fame aliments; it's 
flefh, though drier and leaner than that of the 
Vol. II. 
PEC 
hog, is yet tolerable food ; it is improved by caiira- 
tion; and, when killed, not only the parts of ge- 
neration muft be inftantly removed, but alfo the 
navel on the back, wirh all the glands that con- 
tribute to it's fupply : for if this operation be de- 
ferred for only half an hour, tlie flefh acquires 
fuch a rancid taite, as to be totally unfit for food. 
Tlie Pecary is a gregarious animal; and fome- 
times herds of two or three hundred unite toge- 
ther for their common defence. They are parti- 
cularly fierce when their young ones are attempted 
to be wrefted from them: they lurfound the plun- 
derer, attack him without fear, and frequently 
make his life pay the ranfom of his temerity. 
When any of the natives are purfued by a herd 
in this manner, they frequently climb trees in or- 
der to avoid them; while the Pecaries gather 
round the roots; threaten with their tufks; and 
their rough briftles ftanding eredt, as in the hog 
kind, they exhibit a very formidable appearance. 
In this manner they continue for hours together; 
while the hunters are obliged to wait patiently, 
and not without apprehenfionSj till their enemies 
think proper tO retire. 
The P'ecary appears to be rather attached to 
mountainous fituations than to lov/lands : it feems 
neither fond of marfhes nor mud, like our hogs ; 
keeps among the woods, where It fubfifts on wild 
fruits, roots, and vegetables; and is an unceafing 
enemy to the lizard, the toad, and all the fer- 
pent race, with which thefe uncultivated forefts 
abound. As foon as it perceives a ferpent, or a 
viper, it immediately feizes it with it's fore hoofs 
and teeth; and flclnning it in an inftant, devours 
it's flefh. This faft has often been feen, and may 
therefore be credited: but, with refpe(fl to the af- 
fertion of it's applying to a proper vegetable im- 
mediately after, as an antidote to the poifon of the 
animal it has devoured, we are rather inclined to 
fufpeft it's authenticity. Neither the flefh of the 
toad, nor of the viper, as moft people know, is 
polfonous ; and therefore there can be no need of 
any remedy againft it's venom, Ray queftions 
the whole account. However, we can have no 
reafon to difbelieve that it feeds on ferpents and 
toads: only the circumftance of it's ufing a vege- 
table antidote appears improbable; and which, 
perhaps, originated from the credulity and igno- 
rance of the natives. 
The Pecary is extremely prolific^ The young, 
follow their dam till they arrive at maturity: if 
early taken from her, they are eafily tamed, foon 
lofing their natural ferocity; however, they never 
fhew any remarkable flgns of docility, but conti- 
nue in a ftate of ftupidity, without attachment, 
or even feeming to know the hand that feeds 
them: they only refrain from mifchief; and may 
be permitted to run tame, without the apprehen- 
fion of any dangerous confcquences. They fel- 
dom ftray far from their fty ; they return of them- 
felves ; and rarely qUarrel with each other, except 
when they happen to feed in common : at fuch 
timies they utter an angry fort of growl, ftronger 
as well as harfher than that of a hog; but they fel- 
dom fcream like the former; only, when irritated^ 
they fometimes have an abrupt angry manner of 
blov/ing like the boar. 
Though the Pecary agrees with the common 
hog in many refpeds, it is neverthelefs a diftin£l: 
race, and will not mix, nor introduce an inter- 
mediate breed. The European hog, which has 
been tranfplanted into America, and fuffered to 
2 X run 
