Bisbee daily review., 1907-09-03
MEXICAN HOGS AS GUARDIANS
 OF HOMES
Wild PorkerS Tanned and Used in Texas as Watch Dogs, Are Better Than CanineS for Purpose.

mon use by ranchmen throughout this section as a watchdog. They are far superior to the ordinary dog for that purpose and are easily domesticated If taken young.
 The javelin of the Southwest has few characteristics of the domestic dog beyond the appearance. In point or fearIessness and courage it sur passes any other animal that roams the chaparral of the Southwest. It is one of the few animals that does not hestitate to attack man. It is feared by every deer hunter who wis its this region. Innumerable instances are known of hunters having been forced to seek refuge in trees to es- cape Javelines President Roosevelt when Police Commissioner of New York made a trip ali the way to Tex as to hunt javelines, and spent two days on a ranch near Uvalde.
 When taken as pigs and domesti- Hated-the jayeline can easily be train
 l to do almost any trick that can be -aught to the most intelligent dog. They are quick to learn to know the members of the family and no strange human being or animal is permitted to enter the house or yard of a home where a pet javeline is on guard. They have a bark which is somewhat similar to a dogs. and when danger approaches they set up their peculiar cry.
 A jeveline has been kept at the ranch home of Howard Buntin, thirty miles west of CUtulla, for several years. This animal has a free run of the place, including the house. The animals are clean in their nature and are not offensive around the house. One day recently MT. Buntin had a guest to dinner. The javeline was not around when the stranger entered the house but later the iayeline cane across the boots of the visitor. With. put any preliminary ceremony the ami. maj made an attack upon the feet and legs of the stranger. The boots were torn to pieces and the man se, yerely injured by the tUsks of the beast before it could be driven off.
 It is the usual custom, o1 account of the yiciousness of the jayelines. to knock out their tusks when they are dOmesticated. Unless this is done they are likely to inflict serious ia- iuries.
 Seth Moore lost twelve fine hunt ing dogs at the hands of one of these javeline 'watchdOgs" not long ago in few minutes. MT. Moore had been hunting and had all of his pacn of dogs with him. At neon he rode III to the TanchhOuse of a man er0p!Dve5 on the Richardson place 10 get some, thing to eat. The house was guarded by a javeline and the aGlAai would not let MT. Moore enter the E8tc. il thOughtless moment MT. Moore set his dogs upon the animal The fight that followed was the bloodi cst &ffai' he ever witnessed, Mir. MoJ:c savs The javeline welcomed he onslaught of the twelve dogs. As fasc as one of them got within striking distance the javeline's tusk would ID the as. sailant wide open.
 The skin of the javeline is very thick and it is impossible for the teeth of dog to penetrate ii. its only vulnerable part ifs its ears and tip of its snout. Its long tusks riO tect it from being caught in these parts by dogs.
 The iavelines in their wild state are strictly vegetarians, but when domes- ticated that will eat meat and almost anything that is fed to them. They are naturally 1.-the and muscular aud do not take on fat, even when Lbuad antly fed.
 The javeline Is a favo"tIe pet for children in many ranchhnuses of tnIs section. They are very afTecti:,. ate toward all persons with whom they have been raised. Doctor Joseph Wooten, a physician at Austin, nas made a close study of javelines for many years. He says that they are one of the most remarkable and least understood of all the wild animals of the Southwest. He has closely in- vestigated their haunts and has raised them domesticated at his home Two tayeline 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 playnates. but should a strange dog attempt to come upon the premises. the javeline would quickly drive it off. Tn speaking oi these pet javelines the other day, Doc tor Wooten said:
 "Javelines are endowed with much more intelligence than the average animal. They are far superior to the ordinary hog in that respect. They are cleanly, and when raised as pets about the house they seem to have a great affection for every member oi the household. They are terrors tc strange people and animals, however and will not permit them to come upon the premises until forced to dc so. If one of my pigs got cut of the back lot at night 1t would make 8 bee-line for the door, where it would scrape it's hoofs against the boards in an effort to attract our attention SC that it might be admitted to the house.
 There is one peculiar thing about the jayeline. It will never turn tail and run. When yoD attempt to drive 1t out of lot it backs out. I never saw one show a symptom of coward. ice.
 The fact is not generally known that the javeline has a musk sack. Il Is a small bag, situated upon its back just above its hips. It is filled at al times with a powerful musk fluid which 1t is able to eject when it be comes enraged, The scent of this musk is almost oyerpowering. It is evidently intended as a weapon of de fense when pressed to close quarters by some natural enemy. So far as | have been able to learn, however the jayeline has no natural enemy in its native country. It is feared and respected by every other kind of wild animal IL is not unlikely that this musk sack is for some other import.