The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-02-20

ward, and. passing through sockets which have
been formed to receive them, pass out to
length of eight or 10 inches in front of the
eyes. There has been much discussion upon
the subject of this abnormal structure but the
conjecture of Wallace with regard to its origin
appears most probable; viz, that these teeth.
whose growth is known to be continuous, like
those of rodents, were originally worn down by
friction. but from changes in the animals hab-
its Of life their use was discontinued, and that
disuse WAS followed by the result above stated.
Pcccaries. whose generic name, Dicotyl
is expressive of the fact that the cutaneous
gland, whose offensive secretion makes their
flesh incdible, opens on the back above the
navel, are slructurally so aberrant from other
groups of their family that some naturalists
seem disposed 10 place them in n ub-tamiiy
by themselves. Without going into technical
details il is sufficient 20 say their teeth and
stomach differ from those of the hog, and they
have groove by which the latter is connected
with the mouth-thns exhibiting an important
trait Of structure belonging 10 rumnants. They
do not cross with swine, and rarely breed IN
confinement. Brazil may be looked upon as the
center of distribution for this genus. but its
species extend through Mexico and Texas rs
far north as the Red River of Arkansas. Fur
Their. the peccary, like the pigmy hogs of the
South Pacific Islands is gregarious. It's habits
are nocturnal, and the forays of herds upon
cultivated lands prove very destructive.
GIT Is SAID To BE FEROCIOUs WHEN
WOUNDED"
observes ". Wright. In this regard the reader
may remember that in the paper describing the
iaguIr il was shown, on unimpeachable au-
thority, that peCcaries attack and kill that
formidable wild beast. and also that the mem
beers 90 herd would stand by each other with
unflnchiug steadiuess and courage till the last.
The writer has seen such herd charge aud
a nf cavalry hpfora of them
had been shot. aud there is not the slightest
doubt that, so far as the evidence on record goes,
the desperate bravery exhibited by the peccary
transccnds anything of the same character
upon the part of the famous Indian tusker.
These animals are divided into the white
Tipped peccary of Guiana, Brazil, Paraguay and
Peru. and the collarcd pecc1ry, so called from
an oblique white strip upon its neck aud
shoulder. The former is the larger, and its flesh
is less taiuted by the oxidation of the cutane-
Gus gland already referred 10. Otherwise these
species arc much alike in habits and general
appearance. The Tipped peccary has white
lower jaw. n tail with nine joints, and its color
Is grayish black. ID. torquatus. the species with
the neck and shoulder streak, is about three
feet long and Is inches high. It's tail also con-
tans fewer veTtchr;e. la both the births are
single. or at the most double, and these species
have but two tcats. Neither species is much
addicted 10 wallowing. That hdeous creature.
the African wart-hog, belongs to n genus called
PhacOchTrus. In this animal the head and
face are much elongated. and the latter is
greatly widened by those excrcsceuces OH the
jowl from which it takes its name. There is
but one pair Of cutting teeth in the upper jaw,
though the CANNES of either jaw curve up
ward and are greatly developed, for the pur.
pose of roofing. since this animal never. to the
writer's knowledge, shows fight. Its grinding
teeth, however,
! DISPLAY THE MOST MARKED PECULTARTTIEs.
In young specimens there are five of these
on each side, but in old hogs only the
| last molar, which has ii tubercles its
crown. is found. These single grinders.
/ like the babirusa's tusks aud the molars
of the elephant. grow continuously, and
Owen supposes that this aberrant dentition Of
+ the wari-hng may throw much light npon the
4 abnormalitics exhibited in that of the elephant.
T Several other forms of Suina exist in Asia and
/ Africa, but they are chiefly interesting from a
purely scientific point OF view, aud the rest OF
I this communication will be devoted 20 an out.
line Oithe character OfSus cris,atus-" The Hog
i par excellence, the gallant" the "undaunt-
! ed and grim gray tusker," as he is called,
Of Indian sportsmen.
Quite good-sized, and not an unintercsting
/ book might he easily compiled from tho best
/ class of sporting works on this subject. IN
one way or another, aud from first 10 last
( the Indian hunters enlarge upon the theme
of "snafIle. spur and spear" To shoot a
boar ground which can be ridden over
/ j. a crime not less hen0us than shooting
fox in Iseicestershire; and they ciaim ap
parcntly with justice, that "hog- hunting" a
! pTact;ced by them Is a sport which, II attend
( cd with fewer fatal results than some others
nevertheless requires the highest exhibition
. 81 skill and courage. As was said, the wild
boar Is very formidable adversary when
FOL. hon 4to
has met with but one exccption-the animal
/ first effort is Co escape, and he only turns up0I
the horscmen when wounded or much blown
Then. however, ali authorities agree tha
he will ight 10 the last and die mute. Col
Markham says that wild bears are perhaps
as dangerous as either bears or le0pards.'
Capt Baldwin, LAS known the =" old gray boar
aud the tiger 10 kill each other and Inglis ant
others confirm the statement. THE NATIVE
shikarls" lhuntcrs), writes Gen. Sbakspere
affirm that the wild boar will quench his thirs
AT the stream letWeen two tigers and bpicy
this 10 be strictly the truth" He adds that
"big boar . laughs NJ a family Of pan
Tiers" Many night-watch by some lonely
watering place has afforded observations whicl
modify these last assertions. There Is NJ
doubt, however, that it is, as Col Pollock re
marks. large and fierce enough TO proven
any animal from attacking il uBadvisedly
There j, 40 doabt that both the lion and tige
have been killed by bears; many hunter ais
has come TO grief" aud many high-cast
Arab persisted from the same ferOcOus assail
ants, while the records Of sport are full of nc
counts Of lines Of elephants being scattered b.
their charge.
On tie other hand. its intelligence Is seem
ingly Of = low order, aud IL neither display
much sagacity in avoiding pursuit, nor in ap
prcciating the extent Of danger. Experience
!. has apparently taught the wild hog little, no
do it, habits of life indicate the possession G
any superior intelligence. There Is, however
an exception To this conclusion from the fact
I furnished by observers, which, as far az tn
writer's information extends, stands alone i
; the iiteratue relating % this animal. This
an account given by Col Davidson of what b
calls q pigs palace, seen by himself in Uppe
India IL WAS no less than an arti fetal dwelling
and tine sole instance Of any such device 9TH
: care and skill with which IL had been cor
: structed," observes Col Davidson, gave III
, enlarged and correct views of the architecture.
talents Of this distinguished animal. Over
? natural or artificial cavity, about eight fee
square boughs Of trees aud coarse grasses ha
g been thrown for roof, and long delcal
grass had been most carefully placed in parable
I, rows, As II done by the hands Of an accomplish
% thatcher 10 throw off the rain. At each en-
there was pr0pylgum, or passage, for the so
2 and pigs." This was written by famous eng
! neer officer, who bad passed nearly lifetin
e ia India. whose sporting tastes aud extenss