The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-10-30

section. They are very affectionate
to all persons with whom they have
been raised. DR.. Joseph Wooten,
physician of Austin, has made close
study of javelines for many years. He
says that they are one of the most re-
markable and least understood of all
the wild animals of the Southwest.
He has closely Investigated their
haunts and has raised them domesti-
Gated at his home. Two javellne pigs
were raised by him as pets for his
two little children. The animals
were the companions and pets of his
children under all circumstances.
The pigs and the family dog were
great playmates, but should a strange
dog attempt to come upon the prem
ises, the javeline would quickly drive
it off.
Speaking OF those pet javelines the
other day DR.. Wooten said; "Jave-
lines are endowed with much more
intelligence than the average animal.
They are far superior to the ordinary
hog in that respect. They are clean
ly, and when raised as pets about
the house they seem to have great
affection for every member of the
household. If one of the pigs got out
of the back lot at night it would
make beeline for the door, where
it would scrape its hoofs against the
boards in an effort to attract our at
tention so that it might be admitted
to the house.
"There is one thing peculiar about
the javeline. 1t will never turn tail
and run. When you attempt to drive
it out of lot it backs out. | never
saw one show a symptom of cow
ardice.
"The fact is not generally known
that the javeline has a musk sac. It
Is small bag, situated upon its back,
just above its hips. 1t is filled at all
times with powerful musk fluid.
which it is able to eject when it be-
comes enraged. The scent of this
musk Is almost overpowering. 1t is
evidently intended as a weapon Of
defense when pressed to close quar-
ters by some natural enemy. So far
as l have been able to learn, however,
the javeline has no natural enemy in
its native country. 1t is feared and
respected by every other kind of wild
animal. 1t is not unlikely that this
musk sac is for some other important
purpose, the nature of which | have
~ ItrnnvrA,a1 L.,
that the fact that is possesses this
musk sac is sufficient to show that it
is an entirely distinct species of ami
nal from the ordinary domestic hog.
This musk sac is easily removed, and
most of the iavelines are operated
upon when taken for the purpose of
being domesticated.
"The javeline of Southwest Texas
Is of the same color as the yellow
sandy soil. Javelines weigh, when
full grown, from fifty to eighty
pounds. They are taller in the fore
part of their body than in the rear.
In this respect they resemble the
wild boar. They are distinguished
iiOLl thC WIN iptSo VI AllLOHd anu
New Mexico by band of gray hair
which extends around their neck.
The common wild hog does not have
this neck band"
The javelines in their wild state
run in droves of twenty to fifty. They
always travel in single file and seem
to have a recognized leader. When
feeding or bedded for sleep or rest,
one of the javelines is always on
guard. Whenever q drove of the ami
mails is about'to cross an open space
a sentinel is first sent out to take a
view of the situation. If everything
is found clear the signal is given
by the sentinel and the whole drove
trots across the clearing and re-enters
the chaparral
The flesh of the iavelnes is eaten
by MeXicans, but it is very tough. and
requires much cooking to make it
eatable.