The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-26
.F|ERCEST ANIMAL
IS THE JAVEL|NA
Beast Peculiar to Rio Grande
COuntry-Weird With
Bravery

Palafox. Texas. July 25.-(Speeial.l-
There is no species of wild animal more
ferocious and holder than the tave-
lima. or wild musk-hog which has its
habitat in the wilderness of chaparral
which borders the lower course of the
Rio Grande in Texas. Extending back
from this river, which for eight hum
dred miles marks the dividing line be-
tween the United States and Mexico, is
rolling country that is covered with
low brush and prickly pear. Along the
borders of the streams are mast-bearing
trees The masts and the fruits of the
cacti and tender roots of the many diff
ferent kinds of plants and shrubs afford
the javelinas an ample supply OF food
at all times of the year With all their
abundant food which nature has so gem
erously provided they never take on an
excess of fat and they maintain a lank-
ness and fleetness of foot that enables
them to make their way through the
thorny brush without hindrance, and,
in case of danger or attack, they can
fairly speed over the ground In pursuit
of their adversary.
The javelinas of the lower border re-
gion of Texas possess peculiar charac-
teristics which are not found in the wild
musk of any other part of the
world. They seem to be a distinct breed
of animal from others which go by the
same name They are distinguished
from the musk-hogs of other regions by
yellow stripe which circles their body
near their shoulders. They attain a
size almost equal to the largest domes-
tic dogs Long tusks protrude from
both the lower and upper Jaws and ft
together like pairs of sharp scissors
Iao 44ra1I he
equipped with these weapons of attack
and defense.
1t Is the boars however. which are
mostly to be feared. The animals run
in droves of five to 50 and each drove
is usually led by two or three boars
They have the power to trail by scent
but this faculty is used by them only in
cases of emergency when in pursuit Of
some enemy, either man or beast Jave-
lima pigs when captured very young
can be domesticated. These animals
are trained and used as 4'watch dogs
by many of the ranchmen of southwest
Texas Their ferocity toward strangers
and bitter enmity toward other wild an
imals of the foraging kind make them
very useful pets
SO far ds known the javelina is the
only wild animal which has no SEM
blance of fear in its makeup 1t never
turns and runs, no matter how the at
tack upon II may be made. Sportsmen
who visit the chaparral region in search
of deer, bear and other big game al
ways try to steer clear of the javelinas.
The risk incurred in standing up against
drove of these animals is more than
encounter. Some of the most noted
the average sportsman is willing
sportsmen in America have Travelled long
distances to beard the javelinas in their
native wilds. but after being forced to
take refuge in a tree and perhaps kept
there for a day or two by the enraged
animals before a rescue can be effected.
the dangerous nature of tho sport is
realized and the experiment of hunting
the javelinas is not repeated.
Col Theodore Roosevelt tried his hand
hunting the iaveinas several years ago.
He was police commissioner of New
York city at the time. and he made the
journey all the way to Texas to indulge
In the exciting sport. He is said to have
had an exciting experience with the ami
mails. The dangerous character of the
sport has caused the iavelnas to be let
severely alone by most hunters and
they roam the brush-covered ranches at
their viii.