North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-12-16
of Q Wild Hog.

of opinion among students Oh natural his'
tory az to the carniverous propensities OF
the wild boar. A writer in a late maya.
zine, who had good opportunities for OBJ
seryation during an extended visit to she
boar-hunting regions of Burgundy, gives
the following as his impressions upon the
subject, and concludes with an anecdote
illustrating a vey curious trait of character
in an animal we have been accustomed to
regard as especially brutal:
have no doubt it is true that the wild
boar will feed On flesh if pressed by hunger
or bred under circumstances of carnivor-
Gus temptation, but doubt thst opportu-
mites have occurred for testing in this par
ticular the appetities of the boars Of Eu-
rope. We know, on the contrary, that
whilst wolves have issued from the forest
20 feed on human corpses fallen in
battle, boars inhabiting the same woods,
though passing close to the scene of ac-
ton, have not turned aside to touch the
bodies. And can adduce an instance, of
nv own personal knowledge, where a
wild boar, domesticated on a farm belong
ing to the mayor Of Clamecy-les- carpillons,
evinced no symptoms of the omnivorous
propensites Of the comm IN hog.
! nave ucVCItuCiCSSy VA SVuut AC v GO"
tay's authority, regarded as proper to the
boar, trait of character which ought to
redeem his name forever from the odious
service Of typifying brutal spleen. The
coup de boutoir, when taken in its literal
sense, means blow unceremoniously In
fiicted by the snout of the boar. FiSura-
lively, it applies to any injury, moral or
physical, unnecessarily inflicted through
sulky, boorish ill-humor, and as the term
boutoir is used to designate exclusively the
snout of the wild boar, it follows that this
animal by common consent, is the elected
emblem Of all that is brutal, surly, and
ungentle. The Counts story related to
wild SOW, hunted by himself in one of his
early campaigns, and was introduced by
him in the course of discussion on the
subject of the coup de boutoir for the ex-
press purpose Of controlling our opinions
before we should conclude irrevocably
that boars were constitutionally incapable
Of generous impulses.
''On that OCCASION said the Count, ~
was not out hunting regularly. was
merely out with my carbine reconnoiter
ing cover in which boars were reported
to have taken shelter. Towards noon, to
my surprise, five boars got up, out Of
range, and crossed into marsh lands be-
vond the Aube. l stood watching their
movements till the mist concealed them,
and was preparing to quit the cover,
when half-grown SOW rose close behind
me and took the plain towards the marsh
in the direction followed by the boars. l
fired instantly and down she fell. then
drew my knife and approached with eau
ton. On arriving within few PAGES of
the spot perceived she was wounded in
the side, and lay on her knees with her
head bent forward on the ground. Before,
however, had time to plunge the knife
into her back, che rose unexpectedly and
made of with staggering pace, but only
to fall PROSTATE gunshot farther on. l
now considered there was no danger, and
going up to the animal, prepared with
confidence to end the adventure. It was
here l learned that lesson of which have
since realised the importance on many an
occasion-namely, to distrust the appear
ance Of exhaustion in powerful and dan
gerous animals. On bending over this
apparent dead SOW, to ascertain the precise
whereabouts of her mortal wound, she
started up suddenly, and dealing me with
her head blow on the mouth which sent
me Keeling, she bolted off full galop and
left me unconscious on the ground.
'On recovering the shock, which was a
most severe one, perceived the SOW had
again relaxed in her pace, and rushed afi
ter her breathing rage and vengeance.
Fortunately, q team of bullocks had passed
in the interval, and diverted her from the
marshes-where I should assuredly have
lost her-and at the same time shepherd
and his dog had intercepted her return to
the cover. She had consequently struck
directly into the high road, which indeed
her only alternative, unless she had faced
round in defiance of nv drawn and shining
knife. ! had no time to reload, for though
the SOW ran limping, her pace was rapid
enough to try my Utmost wind, and Was
compelled at last to drop my piece in or
der to run more lightly. After some
twenty minutes of this exercise, party of
field laborers approached in the opposite
direction, and the sow turned off immed-
i.tely into the open fallows. Here my
strength began to fail, but still held on,
encouraged by the sight on one side Of
some horses feeding, and, on the other, of a
straw cottage. These objects seemed to
prevent the cow from diverging, and l was
able to keep her in view for long distance
ahead. She had now decidedly the best of
it, l being reduced to walking pace and
she being out Of sight.
Presently, however, saw her running
back towards me, having been turned, /
presume, by some subject which was too
distant to perceive. ] thought it was her
intention to attack me, instead of which
she turned off obliquely and followed an
open cartway leading to the entrance of q
large farm. Here she began to run more
family, and / gained upon her sensibly.
She then stopped for an instant, but
seemed Immediately to recover her
strength, and proceeded to limp on with
fresh courage. Another moment brought
her to the farmyard, into which she ran
without hesitation, and / followed close
behind her. A pathway through the farm
led to the low-ground visible from the en-
trance. Into this pathway the sow struck
forthwith, and you will imagine my horr-
or on perceiving right before her on the
ground an infant Of tender years sitting,
needless of all peril, alone at play. The
SOW ran straight at the child, and closed
my eyes in pain as already in fancy saw
it dashed into the air, or killed and mang-
led on the spot. Not so, gentlemen. She
took it up most gently, and softly placing
it on one side, continued her hopeless
digit. But I was now close on her, and
having become desperate with heat and
fever, sprang on her downwards, risking
all, and thrust the knife into her heart
"Ah, the poor beast. should not
have been so hasty." said Henri lesson,
one of the guest, who felt compassion for
the poor sow, so tender for helpless
being, even in the trying moment of her
own extremity.
"But /, gentleman" replied the count,
"had lost two teeth - And with this the
count raised his upper lip, and exhibited
the vacant space once occupied by two
front teeth, knocked out in his collision
with the gentle sow.