The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-02-04
PIGS UGLY IN BATTLE.
Mexico's Peccaries, Small and Fearless
Able 70 Kill Men and Beasts.

/ In one OF his journeys into Mexico I'd
ward " Nation. a mining expert, had a
/ close call from being sliced to shfeds oy
the fierce little South American Pgs
known ~ pccedrIes. He thus describes
{ the adventure:
wished 10 secure some plumes IRON a
number OF the beautifully plumaged birds,
| said MIR. Walton, ! went into the Jungle
aud came to small opening IA which
| there were dry leaves, probably a foot Ia
deBth. covering the ground, and hundreds
of beautifully colored tropical birds IN the
air and in the trees. | fired at one Of the
bird, in flight, when il seemed 10 me the
whole area OF these dead leaves arose ~
front of and all around me. Being f
stranger. naturally | was much frightened,
especially when ! saw the animals which
raised up the leaves apparently ready Tor
an attack. The older animals opened and
closed their mouths, showing their hig,
sharp tltsk> formed very much ike DIRK
knife, and some OF them started toward
me. lmpulsyely ! began firing my gun in
the air and turned around, which seemed
10 stop most of them m0mentarily and a.
| had lots OF cartridges ! kept up the
shooting and they turned and ran away.
found afterwad that | had saved my
life by 50 doing, and by not shooting any
oi the animals.
These animals proved to be the pee.
CARES, the same species a. are in the IN
closures al the City Park. They are most
ter0cious and will attack any animal III eN.
istence On the slightest proyocatlon. When
got back 10 headquarters and told my
companions my experience was informed
that had shot one OF the animals and
made him sQueal the whole bunch would
have been on to me and would have torn
me to pieces quickly. They have been
known to kill bear jaguar, cattle. horses
and any number OF dogs. Although in the
fight scores OF their number might be
killed. they seem to have no fear when
once aroused.
| was told the peccarles burrow under
the dry leaves to protect themselves from
mosquitoe and other winged pests OF that
hot county,. Ny friends had many eX.
citing experiences to tell in regard TO these
ferocious little animals. One of this par
ty, while travelling with companion in
wagon, stopped for luncheon under some
trees and turned their horses out to Craze,
While at luncheon large bunch of Tef
carries appeared and the party thought il
would be nice to shoot among them and
get one or two for meat, so they fired into
them. wounding several, which began to
squeal. Then the whole bunch made an
attack. The men climbed quickly into the
wagon and kept on shooting as long as
their ammunition, which they had in their
pockets, lasted. As they were opening
their bags to get out more ammunition the
peccaries climbed up the tongue of the
wagon and jumped into it. and the men
only saved themselves by jumping onto
the seat and then onto limbs Of the trees
the peccareS taking possession of the
wagon and tearing things to pieces. They
in possession for hours the men
watching them in safety in the trees.
The peccary, or South American wild |
boar, is the smallest of his species. averag-
ing. about three feet long, nor is the ami
NAL possessed of any unusual degree of |
strength To make up for this natural
individual deficiency in combat with more
powerful animals of the jungle the pee
cares always travel in large herds When |
once attacked by herd of peccaries the |
outcome i nearly always death to their |
enemy, The little pigs are armed with |
short, sharp tusks and no matter how
great the slaughter of their own number
lunng the melee, the herd stays on the |
Job until the work is finished
travellers IN tropical and South Ameri-
aan countries tell of fierce encounters be-
tween the peccaries and the iaguar the
monster cat which is lord of the forest,
he laguar has tondness for dinner of
1ork, but a wholesome respect for the
power OF a herd of wild pigs When he
wants to. satisfy his cravings for nork
bet, he drops from a limb Of tree onto
he back of a straggler in the peccary
lerd. The iaguar slays his victim and
her, retreats hastily to his tree before
ne nerd can get at him. When the herd
grows tired of waiting for him to come
Town and moves along, the iaguar descends
md enjoys his meal at leisure. Edmund
>eions. IN his romance of the animal
World, has an interesting account of fight
between .'aguar and herd of peccaries,
ne peccaries had the iaguar freed on the
Gifted away. He was only a few feet
lhoVe them, and by harassing and Hlmn.
ng at their enemy, they finally succeeded
n bringing the conflict to the ground
Aiter the fight was over there were eleven
liled and wounded peccaries, but the
aguar was literally torn to pieces.-From
he Denver Post. '0'''