270 
LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA. 
now erect, to catch the slightest sound. The large 
swimming black eye reminded me of the descrip- 
tions of that of the gazelle, which I should think 
can scarcely be superior in beauty and softness. 
It usually carried its neck upright, and there was 
a fairy lightness and elegance in its whole appear- 
ance which made it the pfettiest of pets. 
The Wild Hog occasionally varies the hunter’s 
amusement and affords good sport. I have before 
alluded to these sylvan swine, runaways from 
domestication, of course, or the offspring of such, 
but yet absolutely wild in habits, possessing all 
the acuteness of senses, all the perfection of re- 
sources, that distinguish a savage animal. 
They are generally of a brindled foxy colour, 
or black ; as long as they are unmarked they are 
free game, and are hunted in the usual manner 
with avidity. The pork of the wild hog has little 
fat, but there is a peculiar game flavour, which is 
altogether lacking in the flesh of a denizen of the 
sty. A tame hog would have scarcely a minute’s 
lease of life if put to his speed before a pack of 
hounds, but these wild ones manage to lead the 
dogs a gallant chase and even to baffle them. 
One Christmas-day, a party of some twenty 
horsemen, with sixteen or eighteen couple of 
hounds, met at a known cover to try for a fox. 
For a time they beat the bush, a capital jungle, 
but found no* trail. At length one dog gave tongue 
in the covert, and a good run of half an hour fol- 
lowed, without a fault, though not a glimpse of 
Keynard had yet been seen. One of the party 
then gave the view halloo, shouting, “A black 
fox! A black fox!” Another invisible run for 
nearly an hour longer, up beside a “branch,” or 
