Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1909-11-20
THE VICIOUS PECCAIRY
A Fierce Creature Is the South
American Wild Boar.
He is SMALL, BUT FEARLESS


istence on the Slightest Provocation
and Will Fight TO the Death--A Bat
tie With a Jaguar.
During one OF his journeys into Mex
leo Edward W Walton. a mining ex-
pert. had close call from being sliced
to shreds by the fierce little South
American pigs known as peccarles. lie
told the story of his escape TO Den
.yer Post reporter.
Il wished TO secure some plumes
from a number OF the beautifully plum
aged birds" said Mr. Walton. II went
into the jungle and came to small
opening In which there were dry
leaves probably foot in depth. coy
Pring the ground. and hundreds OF
beautifully cOlOred tropical birds in
the air and In the trees. fired at one
Of the birds in flight when Il seemed
to me the whole area Of these dead
leaves arose ia front of and all around
me. Being a stranger. naturally I was
much frightened. especially when
saw the animals which raised ub the
leaves apparently ready for an attack
The older animals opened and closed
their mouths. showing their big. sharp
iusks. formed much like a dirk knife
and some of them started toward me
lmpulsively commenced firing my
gun I'm the air and turned around.
which seemed to stop most of them
mOmentarily, and as had lots OF car
tridges I kept up the shooting. and
they turned and ran away. foU z
afterward that I had saved my lral
by so doing and by not shooting any %
the animals.
'These animals proved to be pecca
ries. They are most ferocioUs and will
attack any animal in existence on the
slightest provocation. When I got!
back TO headquarters and told my con-
panions my experience was informed
that had shot one of the animals andS
made him squeal the whole bunchs
would have been on me and wOul&l
have torn me to pieces quickly. TbeY5
have been known to kill bears. jaguarssk
cattle, horses and any number OF dogs.
Although in the fight scores OF the<1
number might be killed. they seem t0k
have no fear when once aroused.
II was told the peccaries burTOw un-
der the dry leaves to protect them1
selves from mosquitoes and Others
winged pests of that hot country. Mye
friends had many exciting experienced
to tell in regard to these ferOciOus litg
tie animals One Of this party, whild.
travelling with a companion in a wagH
on, stopped for lunch under some tFee9&
and turned their horses out to grazeRs
While at lunch a large buHcS of nec6
Icai1es appeared. and they thought iEa
would be nice to shoot among theBtf
and get one or two for meat so theb
fred into them. woundihg severaEf
which commenced to squeal Then th%l
whole bunch made an attack. The mek1
climbed quickly into the wagon ani&
kept on shooting so long as the and
muuition which they had ia theft
pockets lasted. AS they were opening
their bags to get out more ammunitioN
the peccaries climbed up the tOngutA
of the wagon aud jumped into it, an@
the men saved themselves only hkfs
Jumping on to tue seat aud then on ss
limbs Of the trees. the peccaries takin
possession Of the wagon ana teariIkN
things to pieces They remained &E
possession for hours. the men watchiItf
them from safety in the trees" 3
The peccary, or South American viii
boar, is the smallest.ot his species. Il az
eraging about three feet long. nor w
the animal possessed OF any unusu lsa
degree Of strength To make up fRE
the natural individual deficiencies EH
combat with the more powerful a 9
mails Of the jungle the pgccaries "a
ways travel in large herds When on ~
attacked by herd Of pecc0ries
outcome is nearly always death to thfess
enemy. The little pigs are aCIaed w%&
short sharp tusks, and no matter h9SlS
great the slaughter of their own DU W
Der during the melee the herd stay HSA
the job until the work is finished I'M
Travellers in tropical aud SOlh&
American countries tell of fierce @
counters between the peccaries aad H
jaguar, the monster cat which il i4sN
VI tue lOlEeAs nc JNa AAA h"S q ~ G4Ni
ness for a dinner of pork. but wh8 h8EHe
some respect for the power of hka@
Of wild pigs When he wants to sEY4g
lsfy his cravings foe pork diet ff
drops from limb OF a tree on to
back of a stragsler in ttAs pecca aa
herd. The j0gu0r sinys his victim %
then retreats hastily TO his tree
fore the herd can get at him WI
the herd grows tired OF waiting
him TO come down and moves ai k'
the jaguur descends ana enjoys te
mea! ut leisure. Frederick Selou Aki
his romance of the animal world klk9
an interesting account OF hght RRtt
tween iaguar ana % herd OF
carries The peCc0ries had The jagifkt
freed on the limb Of a tree from W k
the bark had rotted away. He
only IA few feet above them aud tkifH
harassing and jumping at their en ts