THE LIVING WORLD. 
563 
The Japanese Masked Pig (Sus pliciceps ) is a large animal which, when 
domesticated, secretes an enormous amount of fat, and whose face is so furrowed 
as to suggest the masks which Mardi-gras brings into fashion. 
The New Guinea Pigmy ( Porcula papuensis ) is the only ungulate repre¬ 
sented in the fauna of that country. 
The Indian Pigmy ( Porcula salvanici) is about a foot and three-quarters 
in length, although it will weigh from seven to twelve pounds. It is timid 
and* gregarious, and the wandering droves are hunted for the extremely delicate 
flesh of the animal. 
The ancient boar-hunt had all the elements which could excite the imagina¬ 
tion or minister to the love of active adventure. The sport was royal and 
knightly, and this insured a magnificent cavalcade. of mighty hunters, with all 
the pageantry of regal extravagance. The object sought was primarily the 
exhibition of superior courage and prowess, and this lent seriousness to the 
amusement. The animal itself was at once a wary and a dangerous foe, and was 
certain to yield no easy 
victory. Into the depths 
of the forest would plunge 
the sportsmen, while the 
attendants in a circle beat 
the bush. Presently the 
cheerful sounds of baying 
hounds indicated the dis¬ 
covery of a boar, and then 
the sport began. Dogs 
were torn to pieces or sent 
howling to the rear; attend¬ 
ants had much to do to 
keep themselves from be¬ 
coming the pursued instead 
of the pursuers ; and even 
the hunter was liable to 
have the boar suddenly 
swerve iii his direction, and with a single cut of his tusks rip open the horse 
'or maim the hunter. 
A wild boar was brought to bay and speared, when it charged and received 
a second spear between the shoulders, and it was charging yet again, when it 
was killed by the hunter, thus fighting literally to the death. 
The African Bush Hog, or Bosch Vark (. Potamochoerus africanus ), is yet 
more hog-like in appearance as well as more ferocious looking, more formidable, 
and more savage. It is a forester, and, like Robin Hood’s men, is apt to rush 
unexpectedly upon the passer-by. Its coloring is either brown, brown and 
white, or brown and chestnut. Its ox-like head has the cheeks ornamented by 
protuberances, the eyes encircled by white bristles, and the ears tipped with 
white, standing more or less erect. Down its back runs a clipped white mane, 
and it carries its tail, adorned similarly, like a charging buffalo, to which the 
animal has, in general appearance, some resemblance. His spoor or tracks 
resemble a capital M, so that those in pursuit of him have no difficulty in dis¬ 
tinguishing his trail from that of other animals. The natives catch them in 
caeydonian boar hunt (ancient print). 
