New-York tribune., 1886-08-16
4 UELCONE TO THE WILD BOAR.

The civilized boar of our Northern States in his
most elaborate manifestation and as he appears at
rutaI cattle shows is not IN animal adapted to the
chase lie cannot flee and he will lot pursue. For
generation after generation he has felt the mould
ing hand of man until his very skeleton bears scant
likeness to the framework OF bis ancestors, aDd all
the resolution and ferocity by careful selection
have been bred out of his sou as completely as the
fcrcely bristled crest has been refined away from
his body More ham and less head more pork ana
less puck, were what men desired and so the great
weli-tusked head which originally constituted 20
per cent of the entire brute has dwindled into
delicate proportions; the strong, archcd snout has
become neat little nose. tir tilted like the petal
of a ilower' between the puffy cheeks and the
stout legs have been Whitfield down to such slender
ness that they often refuse to support the mass OF
bOgus-butter- grease into which under diet Of
carbonaceous corn his muscles have degenerated.
Tho razor back of our Southern forest ranges is
only semi-cyzed and is altogether more pet
uresque animal. In foraging for succuent roots lie
has developed snout that will turn double
furrow with the ease aud expedition of a steam
dtcher. Tho prevalence of the predacious and
nocturnal African about his haunts furnishes the
conditions TO insure the survival OF the speedlest
and most wary. But the razor-back lacks the high
courage of his untamei progcnltOrs. His flesh
has tue RalncY UaNOf impaired Dy ulcl Ol dcoIHs,
chinauaplns and beecb-nuts but there is no game
in his spirit His timidity and lcctness make him
worthy of pursuit but it is murdcr to slay him
with the spear. When he is well creased, how
ever so as to offer an elusive tail-hOlt 10 his
pursuers and turned loose at county far, he fur
nishes abun liant sport of a somewhat ignobie type
to pastoral and primitive people who have not
lost their relish for simple pleasures.
But the genuine wild boar lsnsapT) is beyond all
cayii the game royal. lie proyOkes 10 contest, and
vet in defence of his haIem and his young he
shrlnks from attack. Ia ten-mile chase he
will give the feetest all the running he
wants, and when brought to bay he Will fight
without 1inching to the death, when, III like his
pampcrcd relative who fills the abbatoir with
abiect wallpgs he dies without squeal. lis
takng-ctl is exploit to be celebrated in song
along with deeds of martial prowess and daring.
More courage and address is required for his
capture than for that OF any other animal in The
Temutratc Zone. with the single exception OF the
Rocky Mountain grizzly. But the flesh of the
grizzly is not inviting, while the boars-head,"
wreathed with ivy has been for ages the dish of
crowniLg excellence al the Christmas Dah4uets OF
kings.
In view of these considerations are more than
pleased 20 learn that the Wild boars and their
mates which were turned loose last sprin IN the
wids of sullivan County III this State are still
alive and rDoing and promise to increase ana
mutipiy and replenish the Shawangunk Mountains
They are not treacherous murdercrs like the feline
man-eaters of tropical jungles The damseis oil
Sullivan County can gather huckleberres from
their coverts without fear, and 10 tusk Will be
welded against the small boy who harvests the
chestnut crop, although the sagacous appetite OF
the boar Graves the muscle-forming aibnmnoids
in winch nutrient the sweet chestnut is especially
rich And yet when the woods are stocked the
black game" will mock ut the spear OF the
bnntcr Polo will pale before pig-stlcking Hunt
ing the boar on horseback has elements of excite
mcnt which cross-country riding after the aniSe-
seed bag can never offer Ii is n manlIer sport
than even lrap.shOotn for the fcroclous instincts
of the pigeon are So thoroughly snbdued by con-
foemcut that when the bird lutters forth ii rarely
makes any attack upon the gentlemen and pot
hunters who stand ready to fill its BODY with line
shot In his native forest, however, the boar has
lighting chance. lie can keep TO cover and eXer-
else his gencralshp III avoiding battle, oil he can
elect his own ground for standing at bay. lie can
usually slay few hounds aud there are fortunate
occasions when he can satisfy poetic justice by
dis emboweing horse and rending his rider.
Yes there is more of adventure in tins sort OF
thing than in pigeon Gght and We therefore
welcome the wild II oar to SULLIVAN County and
hope the time is at hand when all our mast
producing forests Will be populous with his klnso
that when the noble passion to Kill something
gets possession of an ingenious American youth ne
can fare forth to attack an animal that Will be
sure to die hard and die game.