120 Quadrupeds. 
THE WILD BOAR, (Sus scrofa,) 
Inhabits, for the most part, marshes and woods, and is 
of a black or brown colour : his flesh is very tender and 
good for food. The Wild Boar has tusks, which are 
sometimes nearly a foot in length, and have often proved 
dangerous to men, as well as to dogs in the chase. His 
life is confined to about thirty years ; his food consists of 
vegetables ; but when pressed by hunger, he devours 
animal flesh. This creature is strong and fierce, and un- 
dauntedly turns against his pursuers. To hunt him is 
one of the principal amusements of the grandees in those 
countries where he is to be found. The dogs provided 
for this sport are of the slow, heavy kind. Those used for 
hunting the stag, or the roebuck, would be very impro- 
per, as they would too soon come up with their prey, 
and, instead of a chase, would only furnish an engage- 
ment. Small mastitis are therefore chosen ; nor do the 
hunters much regard the goodness of their nose, as the 
Wild Boar leaves so strong a scent that it is impossible 
for them to mistake his course. They never hunt any 
but the largest and the oldest, which are known by 
their tusks. When the boar is reared, as is the expres- 
sion for driving him from his covert, he goes slowly and 
sullenly forward, without any indication of fear, not 
very far before his pursuers. At the end of every half- 
mile, or thereabouts, he turns round, stops till the 
hounds come up, and offers to attack them. These, on 
the other hand, knowing their danger, keep off and bay 
him at a distance. After they have for a while gazed 
upon each other, with mutual animosity, the Boar again 
