Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-21
Virginia's wild Hogs.

ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL ANIMALS YET IvoLuTED
From the American Magazine.
Ny attention vas first drawn to this species Of
quadruped ON the 2d day OF september, 1881, when
one ate the tail OF my horse, the saddle both STIR
| rups ana the hitching strap, then gave q squeal
that scared my horse, so that was compelled to
| take long walk home when q ride was intended.
This fixed the date in my mind and induced care
fu study OF this omniverous animal the results OF
which here record:
Genus, Sus
Species, kazor-back.
This species or hog takes it's name from its like
ness of its vertebral column its constant habit OF
wheJting Itself against SaplingS wagOn-wheelS,
fence-posts and its fellows.
ANATOMY: several OF the neck yertebrse are
transferred to the TALL and the pOsterfOr quarters
are sid up the backbone an unusual distance,
fuii-grown SPECIMENS, with the provefSiai Curl
absent, but having instead thereof O brush like a
COW. Ribs OF extraordinary size, length and dis
t1nctnesS; compressed, united below and prop
handle
biLties, IT being able TO clean out half mile OF
potato rows in single night and split the fence
rails to get out OF the patch in the morning. When
this animal Is put into pen OF just It's width, TO
fatten, 1t puts Its nose on the ground. throws up
hind quarters and uses It as pivot to turn around
upon.
Head: Massive 1 am informed by the natives
that when a back Is In prime order for kill
ing It's head just balances its body when laid over
and an unfailing habit OF going backward when they
ought to 20 forward. they are captured in gill;
nets like shad and white fish.
Ears: NOtched In from one to fifteen places;
sometimes slit, sometimes punctured like a colan-
der; often absent. am informed that the notches
ana punctureS are made by whoever catches the
pig first and are private marks to establish owner
Ship-p0rk signatures, as It were, Of the natives.
The Sits are caused by domestic difficulties and
the absence OF both ears Is due desire upon the
part OF nOn-Owners TO destroy the record, so that
they may De stolen with impunity.
Eyes: Small, and so tnexpreSsibly mean in ex-
preston that they are set close together in order
that they may watch each other. A razor-Dack
hog left alone with vesuvius for week would set
1t going.
Hind legs: OF great activity, extension, and en-
durance, enabling these animals to gather corn
from the stalk at the height OF feet for hours at
a time; and when chased, to jump fence having
eight rails and rider, leaving charge OF No. 10
shot to follow.
three, the young showing great instinct for con-
inch lactometers.
Omnivorous: Glass, tin cans, hOopskirts, gum
shoeS-I have failed TO ascertain from the Oldest
justice or the peace in the state that raZOrbackS
ever refused to eat any article from ladys friz to
MY entire Photographic apparatus-camera,
tent, camp-stool and chemicals-were consumed
by flock OF them while was fixing young
mountain maid properly in the landscape for a
picture.
Habits: Nocturnal. diurnal, weekly, monthly,
annual cycles-infinite, undefnable.
Their young are very active. once stopped at
log cabin having the usual surroundings OF bit
Of garden, a dead branch for flrewOOd, thirteen
whtte-headed children under marriageable age,
and an ant1Quated thoroughbred raZOr-back hog
with the maximum number Of little razor-backs.
The absence OF dog from usual cabin surround
ings is accounted for In this way: AdOg Is never
seen where there Is a razor back unless there is
something defective In the dog; he then lives on
the cabin roof, in the Stabe-loft or some other
elevated place. The razor back is the dogs natural
enemy. j once had fine, brave dog TO flush
flock OF raZOr-backS nine miles from my home; l
did not see him again Tor four days, when he put
in wOeful appearance, with the whole Hook after
him. He had been abridged by some six inches,
lost one ear, back scalp, and several teeth. His
stump did not leave its retreat between his legs
for several days afterward. TO this day II go
sideways at him with one shoulder bumped up,
and my mouth caught up in one corner, after the
manner of razor-Dacks, he goes straight to the
Garret and hides