THE BOSCH-VARK. 
Potamochcerus africanm. 
Plate XXVIII. 
Although a true Pig or Wild Hog, generally referred to the same species as the European Wild Hog 
(Sus scrofd), is abundant in the ravines of Marocco, Algeria, and Tunis, all along the southern shores of the 
Mediterranean, this form of the Swine-family is not met with in Africa proper, southwards of the Great 
Desert, its place being there taken by the River-Hogs {Potamochcerus). Of these the only two known species 
are represented in the accompanying and following illustrations, taken from living examples in the Society s 
Gardens. 
The Potamocheres, or River-Hogs, were first distinguished from the true Pigs by Dr. Gray, in 1852. They 
may be recognized by the lengthened and pencilled tufts which ornament the extremities of theii eais, by 
the elongated form of the head, and by the large bony protuberance situated on each side of the face, 
half way between the nose and the eye. There is also a slight difference in their dentition f 1 om that of the 
typical Pigs. 
The South-African species of River-Hog is well known in the eastern parts of the Colony of the Cape 
of Good Hope, where it goes by the name of the Boscli-Vark or “Wood Hog,” and is said to occur also in 
Madagascar, but perhaps on insufficient authority. 
Sir Andrew Smith remarks that specimens of it vary very much in colouring, scarcely any two 
exhibiting the same colours. “Some are of a brownish black, variegated with white, and othexs almost 
entirely of a light redd isi i brown, or rufous tint, without the white markings.” 
Although the Bosch-Vark has long been known to naturalists, but one specimen of this animal, it 
is believed, has ever reached Europe alive. This was a male, obtained by the Society in the beginning of 
1858, and still living in the Menagerie. It forms part of an unequalled series of the Suidce, or Swine-family, 
which have lately been brought together in a building erected expressly for their accommodation, situated 
to the right hand of the principal entrance to the South Gardens. This collection, which embraces 
representatives of all the different forms of this useful and interesting group of animals, is composed of 
the following eleven species and varieties:— 
1. The Common Wild Boar of Europe {Sus scrofd). 
2. The Masked Pig of Japan (S. scrofa, var. dom.). 
3. The Wild Boar of Barbary (S. scrofa, var. barbara). 
4. The Javan Wild Boar (S. vittata). 
5. The South-African River Hog {Potamochcerus afri- 
canus). 
6. The Red River Hog of West Africa (P. penicillatus). 
7. The Babirusa {Babirusa alfurus). 
8. The Collared Peccai’y {Dicotyles torquatus). 
9. The White-lipped Peccary {D. albirostris). 
10. The Ethiopian Wart Hog {Phacochcerus cethiopicus). 
11. The iElian’s Wart Hog (/'. celiani). 
