43 8 
UNGULATES. 
Hunting. 
then kept of moderate size by mutual attrition, but that, for some reason or other, 
they have become of no benefit to the animal, and have assumed a monstrous 
growth like that occurring in the lower tusk of a wild boar when the corresponding 
upper one has been accidentally broken off. 
The natives of Celebes organise carefully-planned hunts for the 
capture of the babirusa, an account of one of these being given by Dr. 
Guillemard in the following words :—“ The animals being driven into a curved, with 
a Y-shaped opening and flanked by netting, we had plenty of time to wait before 
the sport began, and meanwhile the natives arranged themselves at their posts. 
One stood at the door of the curral, ready to close it directly any animal rushed 
in; others took up their places on either side of the wide entrance, while the 
remainder crouched in front of the long net at intervals of a few yards, each 
grasping his spear, and hidden from view by a huge Livistonia (a kind of palm) 
frond. We had not 
long been settled 
before a peculiar 
barking grunt in the 
distance announced 
the arrival of the 
first victim. Every¬ 
one was instantly 
motionless, and 
directly afterwards 
a dark object dashed 
up at great speed 
and buried itself in 
the net a short way 
down the slope. 
There was a short 
struggle, and in less 
than five minutes 
the captive, a full- 
grown female babi¬ 
rusa, was quietly reposing on her back, with her legs tied together with rattan, and 
we were once more in ambush for the next comer. We were hardly quiet before 
the same peculiar sound was heard rapidly approaching, and the next moment a 
magnificent old boar babirusa rushed past within five yards of us, and plunged into 
the net between our tree and the entrance to the curral. His long tusks became 
entangled in the meshes, and the natives ran up to spear him. Just at this moment, 
however, he broke loose, and, turning on his antagonists, scattered them in all 
directions. It was a most determined charge, and, as we were unable to fire for 
fear of hitting some of our own men, it might have proved a serious affair for 
the native he singled out.” After some trouble the animal was, however, finally 
despatched with a spear-thrust; but, “ even with four spears buried in his body, 
the old boar died game, striving to the very last to get at his antagonists.” 
skull of babirusa. (From Guillemard’s Cruise of the Marchesa .) : 
1 We are indebted to Mr. Murray and the author of the book named for the use of this figure. 
