There is no particular reason why the deer of cold countries should not be interchanged; they seem to have the natural adaptability of oxen. But it is not a little surprising that the species from warm climates should flourish in damp and cold ones. The axis deer would be a real addition to the fauna of the great European forests, if it is found that it survives the winter snows without some form of artificial shelter. No one seems to have considered the advisability of introducing the mule-deer into the Central European woods. It is a much finer animal than the fallow buck, and the venison is excellent. In those woods where fallow deer are preserved in a wild state, as on many of the German Emperor's sporting-estates, the mule-deer would be a far more ornamental animal. Few people know what immense herds of red and fallow deer, as well as of wild boars, still exist, under careful preservation, in the forests of the great German, Austrian, and Russian princes, and in the royal forests of their respective countries.
YOUNG HIMALAYAN MUSK-DEER.Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.YOUNG HIMALAYAN MUSK-DEER.The male carries a pouch on the abdomen, from which the musk is obtained. There are no antlers.
Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.YOUNG HIMALAYAN MUSK-DEER.The male carries a pouch on the abdomen, from which the musk is obtained. There are no antlers.
Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.
YOUNG HIMALAYAN MUSK-DEER.
The male carries a pouch on the abdomen, from which the musk is obtained. There are no antlers.
When the Kaiser holds his great Court hunting-parties, to which the guests all come dressed in the uniform of the Order of St. Hubert, as many as 200 deer are shot in a day. They are driven past the guns by beaters. After the day's sport is over all the antlers are wreathed with boughs of spruce fir, and the stags laid out like rabbits after an English battue.
It is rather surprising that only one species of deer has been entirely domesticated—viz. the Reindeer. Deer's meat is as highly prized as that of any other game, perhaps even more so. There is almost no part of the animal which is not useful. The horns are valuable for knife-handles, and always command a good price; they were prized even by prehistoric man, who converted them into pick-axes, and made spear-heads and daggers of them. The leather of the hide makes the softest and best of all hunting-garments: the American Indian or trapper always wears, or used to wear, a deer-skin shirt and deer-skin leggings, made as exquisitely soft as chamois leather by a process known to the squaws. At the present time all the best gloves are made of doe-skin; they are far the most costly of any gloves. Doe-skin breeches are also a luxurious garment to ride in. For ornamental rugs few skins beat those of the Dappled Deer, laid on the floor of some finely furnished hall or room.
Thus we have the curious spectacle of the wild men of the Far North, the Lapps and Ostiaks, taming and keeping in domestication great herds of deer, milking them, using them as beasts of draught, and feeding on their flesh, while far more civilised races in the South have not taken the trouble to do so. The reason is not easy to surmise, unless it be that the idea of making use of the Deer Tribe solely as beasts of the chase was so rooted in the European ruling races, and their kings and nobles, that the agriculturist never had a chance of trying to tame and use them for other purposes. It is certain that during the Middle Ages law and custom made any such attempt quite impossible. The deer were a valuable sporting asset, so hedged round with an atmosphere of feudal privilege, that to convert them into something useful to the common people would have been regarded as an insult to the powers that were.
THE CAMEL-PLOUGH, USED IN ALGIERS.Photo by Neurdein Frères][Paris.THE CAMEL-PLOUGH, USED IN ALGIERS.Camels are often used for agricultural purposes in North Africa, Syria, and India. In this particular case a special kind of plough is employed.
Photo by Neurdein Frères][Paris.THE CAMEL-PLOUGH, USED IN ALGIERS.Camels are often used for agricultural purposes in North Africa, Syria, and India. In this particular case a special kind of plough is employed.
Photo by Neurdein Frères][Paris.
THE CAMEL-PLOUGH, USED IN ALGIERS.
Camels are often used for agricultural purposes in North Africa, Syria, and India. In this particular case a special kind of plough is employed.
THE CAMEL TRIBE AND THE CHEVROTAINS.
BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S.
The Camels and Llamas, constituting the present group, form a very distinct section of the great assemblage of animals known as the Ruminants, or Cud-chewers. The Camel Tribe are peculiar amongst the Ruminants in that they never possess horns, and in that the stomach is only divided into three instead of four compartments—this division into compartments being intimately connected with the ruminating habit. Furthermore, the upper jaw bears cutting-teeth, or "front teeth," as they are popularly called: though the full set (three pairs) is only complete in the young, in the adult but one pair remains, the others being shed. The canine or "eye" teeth are also peculiar in their position, those of the lower jaw being separated from the cutting-teeth by a very considerable gap.
A WHITE CAMEL.Photo by E. Landor][Ealing.A WHITE CAMEL.A light sandy is the common colour, though white, grey, brown, and black occur; but black camels are held by the Arabs to be worthless.
Photo by E. Landor][Ealing.A WHITE CAMEL.A light sandy is the common colour, though white, grey, brown, and black occur; but black camels are held by the Arabs to be worthless.
Photo by E. Landor][Ealing.
A WHITE CAMEL.
A light sandy is the common colour, though white, grey, brown, and black occur; but black camels are held by the Arabs to be worthless.
In the structure of the feet the Camel Tribe are no less peculiar; indeed, it is on this character that the scientific name of the group is founded. Only two toes are present; these are of equal size, and, instead of being protected by hoofs, are provided with a hardened skin, covering a cushion-like pad, which expands when the weight of the body is thrown upon the foot, as in walking. This is an admirable adaptation for walking on soft and yielding sands. Hoofs are represented only by a pair of broad nails.
ARABIAN CAMEL.Photo by Charles Knight][Aldershot.ARABIAN CAMEL.This individual belongs to the heavy breed employed for carrying merchandise and baggage.
Photo by Charles Knight][Aldershot.ARABIAN CAMEL.This individual belongs to the heavy breed employed for carrying merchandise and baggage.
Photo by Charles Knight][Aldershot.
ARABIAN CAMEL.
This individual belongs to the heavy breed employed for carrying merchandise and baggage.
The three-chambered stomach is remarkable because the chamber known as the "paunch" lodges in its walls a large collection of "water-cells," in which can be stored as much as a gallon and a half of water. This faculty of storing water is invaluable to an animal which has often to subsist for days on absolutely waterless deserts.
Note the slit-like nostrils in the illustration of the Bactrian Camel onpage 306. These can be closed at the will of the animal, a useful precaution against the entrance of sand during the violent sand-storms which often arise in the desert.
The True Camels are distinguished by the possession of a hump or humps: there are never more than two. It is in these humps that the camel was popularly supposedto store water; in reality they are huge masses of fat, serving as a reserve store of food. The accumulation of fat for this purpose is a common feature amongst the Mammalia. Most animals which hibernate, or lay up and sleep during the winter, store up fat; but, except in the camel, it is distributed more or less evenly over the body. With hard work or bad feeding the camel's hump dwindles almost to nothing. When on the eve of a long journey, the Arab looks anxiously to the state of this hump, for on the size of this depends the animal's condition and ability to undertake the march.
A CAMEL.Photo by York & Son][Notting Hill.A CAMEL.A half-breed between the Arabian and Bactrian species.
Photo by York & Son][Notting Hill.A CAMEL.A half-breed between the Arabian and Bactrian species.
Photo by York & Son][Notting Hill.
A CAMEL.
A half-breed between the Arabian and Bactrian species.
The Arabian camel as a wild animal has long since been extinct. Of the hordes of so-called wild camels which abound in the desert regions of Central Asia (Gobi Steppe), some are probably descendants of domesticated animals which have escaped from captivity, but others may be aboriginally wild. From the evidence of fossil camels, there seems little doubt that this animal originated in North America—one branch of the family (the Llamas) migrating into South America, and the other (the Camels) crossing Bering Sea into the Old World.
The True Camel.
A STRING OF CAMELS NEAR PORT SAID.Photo by W. Reid][Wishaw, N.B.A STRING OF CAMELS NEAR PORT SAID.These are the typical desert-camels of the East.
Photo by W. Reid][Wishaw, N.B.A STRING OF CAMELS NEAR PORT SAID.These are the typical desert-camels of the East.
Photo by W. Reid][Wishaw, N.B.
A STRING OF CAMELS NEAR PORT SAID.
These are the typical desert-camels of the East.
Before proceeding further, it may be well to refer to the confusion which exists in the use of the names Camel and Dromedary. The latter name seems popularly to be applied to the two-humped species, the name Camel being reserved for the one with a single hump. This is a mistake. TheDromedaryis a swift breed of riding-camel of the one-humped species, and is so called to distinguish it from its slower brother, the Pack-camel, orBaggage-camel. The pack-camel, it is interesting to note, has been introduced into Australia, where it has proved invaluable in crossing the vast waterless deserts, on account of its power to exist for long periods without drinking.
HEAD OF BACTRIAN CAMEL.Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.HEAD OF BACTRIAN CAMEL.The hair of this species is used to felt into material for tents. It is longest on the top of the head, neck, humps, and parts of the fore limbs.
Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.HEAD OF BACTRIAN CAMEL.The hair of this species is used to felt into material for tents. It is longest on the top of the head, neck, humps, and parts of the fore limbs.
Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.
HEAD OF BACTRIAN CAMEL.
The hair of this species is used to felt into material for tents. It is longest on the top of the head, neck, humps, and parts of the fore limbs.
TheTrueorArabian Camelis found in a domesticated state in Africa and Asia, and, as we have just indicated, belongs to the one-humped species. It is a long-limbed, short-haired animal, standing as much as 7 feet high. As a wild animal it is extinct. Much mystery, indeed, surrounds the question of its origin. It has been suggested that the Arabian camel, or its immediate parent, may have sprung from an Indian ancestor, and thence made its way through Arabia and Syria into Northern Africa.
Not only is the camel indispensable as a beast of burden, but it is esteemed also for its hair, its flesh, bones, and milk. The hair is woven into cloth. In some parts of India the bones are used instead of ivory for inlaid work. The milk is unusually thick and rich, so much so that it cannot be used for tea or coffee, as it curdles when mixed with either.
The camel is popularly supposed to be a very docile animal; but those who speak from experience declare it to be stupid, surly, and vicious to the last degree. It is, however, not entirely void of understanding, and apparently cherishes feelings of revenge, as the following story shows: "A camel, working in an oil-mill, was severely beaten by its driver. Perceiving that the camel had treasured up the injury, and was only waiting a favourable opportunity for revenge, he kept a strict watch upon the animal. Time passed away; the camel, perceiving it was watched, was quiet and obedient, and the driver began to think the beating was forgotten, when one night, after the lapse of several months, the man was sleeping on a raised platform in the mill, whilst the camel, as is customary, was stabled in a corner. Happening to awake, the driver observed by the bright moonlight that, when all was quiet, the animal looked cautiously round, rose softly, and, stealing towards a spot where a bundle of clothes and a bernous, thrown carelessly on the ground, resembled a sleeping figure, cast itself with violence upon them, rolling with all its weight, and tearing them most viciously with its teeth. Satisfied that revenge was complete, the camel was returning to its corner, when the driver sat up and spoke. At the sound of his voice, perceiving the mistake it had made, the animal was so mortified at the failure and discovery of its scheme, that it dashed its head against the wall and died on the spot."
It is said that when camels pass a mounted man in a narrow path they will turn their heads suddenly round and endeavour to inflict a bite on the rider's arm or shoulder. This is naturally much dreaded, as a camel's bite is particularly severe.
Much care has been spent in the breeding of the camel. "In the Sahara Desert," says Canon Tristram, "the Tourareg is as careful in the selection of his breeding mahari (a fine race of the dromedary) as the Arab is in that of his horse. The pedigrees are handed down, and many a dromedary can boast a genealogy far longer than the descendants of the Darley Arabian" (page 202).
The Bactrian Camel.
AN OLD MALE BACTRIAN CAMEL.Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.AN OLD MALE BACTRIAN CAMEL.This animal is a magnificent representative of the two-humped species, so widely distributed in Central Asia.
Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.AN OLD MALE BACTRIAN CAMEL.This animal is a magnificent representative of the two-humped species, so widely distributed in Central Asia.
Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.
AN OLD MALE BACTRIAN CAMEL.
This animal is a magnificent representative of the two-humped species, so widely distributed in Central Asia.
This species is often called the Dromedary; but, as we have already remarked, this is an error. The dromedary is a swift breed of the Arabian camel. TheBactrian Camelmay be distinguished from its Arabian relative by the fact that it has two humps, is shorter in the leg and heavier, and has longer hair and stouter and harder feet. The shorter legs are distinctly advantageous, enabling the animal to get about with ease and safety over rocky and hilly ground.
BACTRIAN CAMEL.Photo by Charles Knight][Aldershot.BACTRIAN CAMEL.The most useful transport animal of Central Asia.
Photo by Charles Knight][Aldershot.BACTRIAN CAMEL.The most useful transport animal of Central Asia.
Photo by Charles Knight][Aldershot.
BACTRIAN CAMEL.
The most useful transport animal of Central Asia.
The hordes of wild camels found in Turkestan, in the neighbourhood of Kashgar, are believed by Major C. S. Cumberland to be descended from camels which escaped when the district known as Takla Makan was buried in a great sand-storm 200 years ago. From the fury of that storm it is said no human being escaped alive. Some camels apparently did, perhaps owing their survival to the power they possess of closing the nostrils, and thereby keeping out the sand.
The Bactrian camel lives upon the salt and bitter plants of the steppes, which are rejected by almost all other animals. It is further able to drink brackish water from the salt lakes by which it is surrounded. When pressed by hunger, it will even eat felt blankets, bones and skins of other animals, and fish!
THE LLAMAS.
The Llamasare humpless camels, and confined to the western and southernmost parts of South America. Two wild and two domesticated species are known. The name Llama, it should be mentioned, properly belongs to the domesticated animal of that name.
The Vicuña.
This is the smaller of the two wild species. Vicuñas live in herds in the mountain-ranges of Peru, dwelling during the wet season high up amid rocks and precipices, near the region of perpetual snow. In the dry season they descend to the higher valleys. Their capture is a matter of great difficulty; for, apart from the inaccessible nature of their haunts, they are exceedingly shy and vigilant. They are clothed in a woolly coat of extremely delicate texture, much in demand for weaving purposes.
YOUNG BACTRIAN CAMEL.Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.][Parson's Green.YOUNG BACTRIAN CAMEL.The two humps are just beginning to grow.
Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.][Parson's Green.YOUNG BACTRIAN CAMEL.The two humps are just beginning to grow.
Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.][Parson's Green.
YOUNG BACTRIAN CAMEL.
The two humps are just beginning to grow.
The baby vicuña, it is interesting to note, is able to run swiftly directly after its birth, and possesses great powers ofendurance. This is the more noteworthy since the young of the camel are exceedingly helpless.
Vicuñas are hunted by the Indians and captured by driving them into an enclosure of perhaps half a mile in diameter. This is hung round with bits of coloured rag, which, fluttering in the wind, appear to deter the captives from breaking through.
The Guanaco.
This is larger than the vicuña, and is described as an elegant animal, being possessed of a long, slender, gracefully curved neck and fine legs. It ranges from the highlands of the Andes to the plains of Patagonia and the islands of Tierra del Fuego. As Mr. Darwin points out, the behaviour of guanaco when alarmed is very contradictory. At one time they will sound the danger-signal, and put themselves out of harm's way long before the enemy has perceived them; at another they exhibit the most extraordinary curiosity, and pay the death-penalty in consequence. "That they are curious is certain; for if a person lies on the ground and plays strange antics, such as throwing up his feet in the air, they will almost always approach by degrees to reconnoitre him. It was an artifice that was repeatedly practised by our sportsmen with success, and it had, moreover, the advantage of allowing several shots to be fired, which were all taken as part of the performance. On the mountains of Tierra del Fuego, I have more than once seen a guanaco, on being approached, not only neigh and squeal, but prance and leap about in the most ridiculous manner, apparently in defiance, as a challenge. These animals are very easily domesticated, and I have seen some thus kept in Northern Patagonia near a house, though not under any restraint. They are in this state very bold, and readily attack a man by striking him from behind with both knees. The wild guanacos, however, have no idea of defence; even a single dog will secure one of these large animals till the huntsmen can come up. In many of their habits they are like sheep in a flock. Thus, when they see men approaching in several directions on horseback, they soon become bewildered, and know not which way to run. This greatly facilitates the Indian method of hunting, for they are thus easily driven to a central point, and are encompassed."
GUANACO.Photo by J. W. McLellan][Highbury.GUANACO.The wild original of the llama and alpaca.
Photo by J. W. McLellan][Highbury.GUANACO.The wild original of the llama and alpaca.
Photo by J. W. McLellan][Highbury.
GUANACO.
The wild original of the llama and alpaca.
Guanacos readily take to the water, and have been frequently seen swimming from one island to another. Here again the llamas differ from the camels, for these can swim but little, if at all. Like the Bactrian camel, the guanaco can drink salt water with impunity.
One of the most remarkable traits of the guanaco is that which induces it, when it feels its end to be near, to seek out the dying-place of the tribe, and there breathe out its last. "The guanacos," says Mr. Darwin, "appear to have favourite spots for lying down to die. On the banks of the St. Cruz, in certain circumscribed places, which were generally bushy and all near the river, the ground was actually white with bones. On one such spot I countedbetween ten and twenty heads.... The animals in most cases must have crawled, before dying, beneath and amongst the bushes."
The Llama.
This is the first of the two domesticated offshoots of the guanaco, the other being the Alpaca. TheLlamais a larger beast than the guanaco, and variable in colour. The ancient Peruvians bred it as a beast of burden or for riding, and before the Spanish conquest kept it in enormous numbers. Soon after the Spanish conquest "it was not uncommon to meet droves of from 300 to 500, or even 1,000 llamas, each laden with silver ingots, and the whole in charge of a single native.... Only the male llamas were used as beasts of burden, while the smaller females were kept for their milk and flesh. In travelling along the roads, the droves marched in single file, under the guidance of a leader; and such a line would traverse the highest passes of the Cordillera, and skirt the most stupendous precipices with perfect safety.... The Spanish conquerors of Peru spoke of llama-flesh as being fully equal to the best mutton, and they established shops in the towns for its regular sale. At the time of the conquest it is estimated that upwards of 300,000 llamas were employed in the transport of the product of the mines of Potosi alone."
The Alpaca.
This animal is bred solely for the sake of its wool, which is of great length and fineness. From it is made the well-known fabric which bears, in consequence, the name "alpaca."
The alpaca is kept in herds on the high grounds of Bolivia and South Peru, whence it is annually driven down to be sheared. The Incas dyed the wool—which is of two qualities, a fine and a coarse—with bright colours, and made it up into cloth or blankets, as the occasion served.
LLAMAS.Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.LLAMAS.Largely used as beasts of burden in Peru, where these and the alpaca were formerly the only domesticated ruminants.
Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.LLAMAS.Largely used as beasts of burden in Peru, where these and the alpaca were formerly the only domesticated ruminants.
Photo by the Duchess of Bedford][Woburn Abbey.
LLAMAS.
Largely used as beasts of burden in Peru, where these and the alpaca were formerly the only domesticated ruminants.
The earliest account of this animal is by Augustin de Zarate, the Treasurer-General of Peru in 1544. He speaks of the beast as a sheep; but since he describes it as camel-like in shape, though devoid of a hump, there can be no doubt that it is the llama he is describing. He says: "In places where there is no snow the natives want water, and to supply this they fill the skins of sheep with water, and make other living sheep carry them; for, it must be remarked, these sheep of Peru are large enough to serve as beasts of burden. They can carry about 100 lbs. or more, and the Spaniards used to ride them, and they would go four or five leagues a day. When they are weary, they lie down on the ground; and as there are no means of making them get up, either by beating or assisting them, the load must of necessity be taken off. When there is a man on one of them, if the beast be tired and urged to go on, he turns his head round and discharges his saliva, which has an unpleasant odour, into the rider's face. These animals are of great use and profit to their masters, for their wool is very good and fine ... and the expense of their food is trifling, as a handful of maize suffices them, and they can go four or five days without water. Their flesh is as good as that of the fat sheep of Castile. There are now public shambles for the sale of their flesh in all parts of Peru, which was not the case when the Spaniards came first."
LLAMA.Photo by Miss E. J. Beck.LLAMA.The larger of the two domesticated forms descended from the guanaco.
Photo by Miss E. J. Beck.LLAMA.The larger of the two domesticated forms descended from the guanaco.
Photo by Miss E. J. Beck.
LLAMA.
The larger of the two domesticated forms descended from the guanaco.
The particularly offensive habit of spitting in the face of people who may be obnoxious to it is well known to those who are in the habit of seeing much of this animal.
ALPACA.Photo by G. W. Wilson & Co., Ltd.][Aberdeen.ALPACA.A domesticated form, bred solely for its wool, which is of a dark brown or black colour.
Photo by G. W. Wilson & Co., Ltd.][Aberdeen.ALPACA.A domesticated form, bred solely for its wool, which is of a dark brown or black colour.
Photo by G. W. Wilson & Co., Ltd.][Aberdeen.
ALPACA.
A domesticated form, bred solely for its wool, which is of a dark brown or black colour.
THE CHEVROTAINS.
Mention must be made, before passing to the Pig Tribe, of the smallest of hoofed mammals, the Royal Antelope excepted—theChevrotains. These little animals are hornless, and intermediate in character between the Deer, Camels, and Pigs. The males have large canine teeth, like those of the Musk-deer, with which the Chevrotains have long been confounded. The range of these animals, of which there are five species known, extends from India and Ceylon, through the Malayan countries, as far east as the island of Palawan, in the Philippine group. One species, the largest of the group, occurs on the west coast of Africa.
THE PIG AND HIPPOPOTAMUS.
THE PIG TRIBE.
BY H. A. BRYDEN.
Many species and varieties of swine are found in different parts of the world, most of them exhibiting strong traces of a general family resemblance, although widely sundered as to habitats and often markedly differing in outward appearance. All are omnivorous; all have the stomach simpler in type than in the Ruminants; and all have front or incisor teeth in the upper jaw. The two great families of swine proper are the Pigs and Peccaries.
A DOMESTICATED SOW AND HER PROGENY.Photo by W. Reid][Wishaw, N.B.A DOMESTICATED SOW AND HER PROGENY.The absence of stripes and spots on the young is a feature in which they differ from those of nearly all wild swine.
Photo by W. Reid][Wishaw, N.B.A DOMESTICATED SOW AND HER PROGENY.The absence of stripes and spots on the young is a feature in which they differ from those of nearly all wild swine.
Photo by W. Reid][Wishaw, N.B.
A DOMESTICATED SOW AND HER PROGENY.
The absence of stripes and spots on the young is a feature in which they differ from those of nearly all wild swine.
There has been much discussion among scientists as to the early origin of the various breeds of domestic swine found in different parts of the world. There can be little doubt that, although selective breeding has produced extraordinary differences in outward appearance, even among the domestic pigs of our own islands, the origin of the numerous tame races is to be sought in the ancestry of the wild breeds of the countries in which they are found. Darwin has some very apposite remarks on the differences to be observed in domesticated swine. "The peculiar form of the skull and body in the most highly cultivated races is," he observes, "not characteristic of any one race, but is common to all when improved up tothe same standard. Thus the large-bodied, long-eared English breed, with a convex back, and the small-bodied, short-eared Chinese breeds, with a concave back, when bred to the same state of perfection, nearly resemble each other in the form of the head and body. This result, it appears, is partly due to similar causes of change acting on the several races, and partly to man breeding the pig for one sole purpose—namely, for the greatest amount of flesh and fat; so that selection has always tended towards one and the same end. With most domestic animals the result of selection has been divergence of character; here it has been convergence."
WILD BOAR.Photo by Ottomar Anschütz][Berlin.WILD BOAR.In its long, bristly hair and powerful lower tusks, the wild boar is a very different animal from its domesticated descendants.
Photo by Ottomar Anschütz][Berlin.WILD BOAR.In its long, bristly hair and powerful lower tusks, the wild boar is a very different animal from its domesticated descendants.
Photo by Ottomar Anschütz][Berlin.
WILD BOAR.
In its long, bristly hair and powerful lower tusks, the wild boar is a very different animal from its domesticated descendants.
The True Pigs.
True pigs are found only in the Old World, and even there in very widely different forms. Typical of these quadrupeds is the well-knownWild Boar, found abundantly in many parts of Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, and Central Asia. In the British Islands the wild boar must once have been extraordinarily plentiful, especially in Ireland, where its tame descendants still so greatly flourish. In the days of the Plantagenets wild swine fed and sheltered in the woodlands close to London. James I. hunted them near Windsor in 1617, and even down to the year 1683 these animals still had their haunts in the more secluded parts of England. Although now extinct in these Islands, the wild boar is to be found plentifully at the present day in France, Germany, Austria, Russia, and Spain, Greece, Albania, and other countries of the Mediterranean. In most parts of Europe the wild boar is shot during forest drives, but in the Caucasus and round the Black Sea the hardy peasants lie in wait for these animals by the fruit-trees on autumn nights or waylay them going to the water and shoot them single-handed. Many an old Cossack, writes Mr. Clive Phillipps-Wolley, bears the scars of some desperate encounter with these formidable foes. In Spain, where in the old days the boar was pursued by cavaliers with spear and pike, it is still, in the forests of Estremadura, followed with horse and hound, usually, says Mr. Abel Chapman, "during the stillness of a moonlight night, when the acorns are falling from the oaks in the magnificent Estremenian woods."
DIVING-PIGS.Photo by J. Turner-Turner, Esq.DIVING-PIGS.Half-wild pigs, found in Florida, where they live on refuse fish. (Seenext page)
Photo by J. Turner-Turner, Esq.DIVING-PIGS.Half-wild pigs, found in Florida, where they live on refuse fish. (Seenext page)
Photo by J. Turner-Turner, Esq.
DIVING-PIGS.
Half-wild pigs, found in Florida, where they live on refuse fish. (Seenext page)
In India the wild boar of Europe and North Africa is replaced by a closely allied species (distinguished by a crest of long black bristles upon the neck and back), which furnishes some of the finest and most exciting sport in the world to mounted hunters armed with a sharp spear. There is not a pluckier or more fearless beast living than the boar; and as he carries long and extremely sharp tusks, and never scruples to use them, he is an exceedingly dangerous opponent when wounded and enraged. Severe and even fatal accidents have happened in the pursuit of this determined beast of chase. When at bay, the boar is absolutely reckless of life; and although pierced and mortally wounded by the spear, will yet force himself up the shaft, and with his dying effort inflict gaping wounds on the horse bearing his attacker. Indian shikaris, to illustrate the courage of the wild boar, say that he has the hardihood to drink at a river between two tigers; and Colonel R. Heber Percy mentions, in the Badminton volumes on "Big Game Shooting," that "several cases are on record in which an old boar has beaten off a tiger, and some in which the latter has been killed by a boar. The boar's extraordinary activity and sharp tusks make him no mean adversary, and his short neck makes it difficult for a tiger to seize it and give it that fatal wrench with which he likes to polish off his victims." A wild boar will stand as much as 3 feet at the shoulder—some sportsmen affirm considerably more—and weigh more than 300 lbs. The finest boar's tusk known is one mentioned in Rowland Ward's "Records of Big Game." This measures 11½ inches over the curve. It came from the Caucasus, and is in the possession of Colonel Veernhof.
It is worthy of note that, while the full-grown individuals of the various species of wild swine are uniformly coloured, their young are longitudinally striped and spotted. In India, besides the common boar, a tiny wild swine, known as thePygmy Hog, is found in the Bhutan Terai and the forests of Nepal and Sikhim. This pig, which is little bigger than a fox-terrier, runs in considerable troops, or sounders, and is said to attack intruders into its domain much in the same fearless way in which the peccary of America defends its sanctuaries. The height of this diminutive species is given as from 8 to 10 inches—the weight at 10 lbs.
Wild swine are nocturnal in their habits, frequenting moist and marshy country, loving the shade of forests, and making their lairs in tall grass, reed-beds, and similar covert. They go far afield for their food-supplies, and do a great deal of damage to crops in cultivated districts. The European wild sow produces from six to ten young, and at least two litters are usually brought forth in the year.
It is remarkable how quickly pigs, as well as other domesticated animals, revert to a semi-feral state of existence, and develop habits suited to a fresh environment. Mr. J. Turner-Turner sends us the following interesting note in connection with this trait: "Diving-pigs.—These pigs live in an almost wild condition on certain of the islands off Florida, and subsist chiefly upon the refuse fish cast away by the netsmen. To obtain this, the pigs dive under water, walking on the land at a depth of 5 feet below the surface."
Among other Asiatic wild swine are to be mentioned theCollared Pig, found in Java, Sumatra, and Borneo; theWhite-whiskered Japanese Pig; thePapuanandFormosan Pigs; theWarty Pigof Java and Borneo; theCeram Pig; theCelebes Pig; and theBearded Pigof Borneo, a species distinguished by a quantity of long hair carried upon the cheeks. In the Andaman Islands a small, shaggy wild pig, standing about 20 inches at the shoulder, is found in the forests. Although distinguished from the well-known wild boar of India by certain peculiarities, there is a strong family resemblance to that well-known species in most of these various Asiatic species and races.
Among the many kinds of domesticated swine found in Asia, perhaps the strangest and most curious is theJapanese Masked Pig. This animal is described by Darwin as having "an extraordinary appearance, from its short head, broad forehead and nose, great fleshy ears, and deeply furrowed skin. Not only is the face furrowed, but thick folds of skin, which are harder than the other parts, almost like the plates on the Indian rhinoceros, hang about the shoulders and rump. It is coloured black, with white feet, and breeds true. That it has long been domesticated there can be little doubt; and this might have been inferred even from the circumstance that its young are not longitudinally striped."
JAVAN WILD PIG.Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co., Parson's Green.JAVAN WILD PIG.One of several nearly allied species inhabiting the Malay Islands.
Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co., Parson's Green.JAVAN WILD PIG.One of several nearly allied species inhabiting the Malay Islands.
Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co., Parson's Green.
JAVAN WILD PIG.
One of several nearly allied species inhabiting the Malay Islands.
MALE AND FEMALE BABIRUSA.Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.][Parson's Green.MALE AND FEMALE BABIRUSA.The chief characteristic of this pig is the peculiar and enormous development of the tusks in the male, the upper pair of which grow through the lips and curve backwards.
Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.][Parson's Green.MALE AND FEMALE BABIRUSA.The chief characteristic of this pig is the peculiar and enormous development of the tusks in the male, the upper pair of which grow through the lips and curve backwards.
Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.][Parson's Green.
MALE AND FEMALE BABIRUSA.
The chief characteristic of this pig is the peculiar and enormous development of the tusks in the male, the upper pair of which grow through the lips and curve backwards.
In Africa, besides the European wild boar, which there extends its range to Algeria and Morocco, a little-known wild pig is theSenaar Boar, found in Senaar, Kordofan, and the Soudan region. In the late Dr. Gray's "Catalogue of Carnivora" this wild pig is described as having the fur dense and bristly, andbeing in colour dull olive-black, varied with yellow. Possibly this little known swine may prove to be merely a sub-species of the common wild boar of Europe and North Africa. Now that the Soudan regions have once more been opened up to Europeans, we may expect shortly to hear more of this wild swine, as well as of other rare and interesting animals.
Still dealing with the true pigs, we come now to the Bush-pigs of Africa and Madagascar. These differ somewhat from the typical wild boars of Europe and India in the structure of the teeth, the long pencilled ear-tufts, the elongated snout, and other characteristics. The tusks are considerably smaller, and seldom exceed 6 or 7 inches in length. TheRed River-hog, orWest African Bush-pig, is decidedly the most striking of this group. Smaller than the bush-pig of South Africa, and seldom exceeding 2 feet in height at the shoulder, the colour of this animal is a brilliant reddish brown, with tints of yellow. Noticeable streaks of white are found round the eyes and on the cheeks. The ear-tufts, forehead, and limbs are blackish; more white markings are seen at the tips of the ear-tufts, along the thick mane, and round the margins of the ears. The under-parts are whitish grey in colour. This very handsome pig runs in considerable herds, and is found chiefly in forest and jungle near the banks of the various rivers in West Africa. Its range extends from Angola to Senegambia, and eastwards into the continent as far as Monbuttu.
WART-HOG.Photo by Miss E. J. Beck.WART-HOG.Shows the great size of the head in proportion to the body.
Photo by Miss E. J. Beck.WART-HOG.Shows the great size of the head in proportion to the body.
Photo by Miss E. J. Beck.
WART-HOG.
Shows the great size of the head in proportion to the body.
ÆLIAN'S WART-HOG.Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.][Parson's Green.ÆLIAN'S WART-HOG.Displays the broad muzzle and huge tusks, which are nearly as large in the sows as in the boars.
Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.][Parson's Green.ÆLIAN'S WART-HOG.Displays the broad muzzle and huge tusks, which are nearly as large in the sows as in the boars.
Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.][Parson's Green.
ÆLIAN'S WART-HOG.
Displays the broad muzzle and huge tusks, which are nearly as large in the sows as in the boars.
The well-knownBush-pig of South Africa, theBosch-varkof the Boers, is a fine species, having a wide range over much of the southern and south-eastern parts of the continent, extending as far north as Central Africa. In the Eastern Transvaal and Swaziland these animals attain their greatest size, an adult boar standing from 2 feet 4 inches to 2 feet 7 inches in height, and weighing as much as from 150 to 170 lbs. The usual colour is brownish red, the face and mane greyish; but in different specimens and at different ages great variations are to be noticed. Pale greyish brown or mottled brown are colours often to be found. These bush-pigs are formidable-looking creatures, with thick bristling manes, small deep-set eyes, and sharp if somewhat short tusks, which they know well how to use. Among the old-fashioned Boers cured hams from these animals were, when they were more plentiful in Cape Colony, often to be found in up-country farmhouses. The bosch-vark is a beast of shy, nocturnal habit, and, loving as it does the shade and protection of dense covert and bush, is, unless carefully sought for, not often seen by sportsmen. The herds range usually from half a dozen to as many as twenty in number. When once encountered and set up at bay, this wild swinewill be found a most tough and courageous adversary, capable and willing to defend itself stoutly against all foes. "They are," says Mr. F. Vaughan Kirby, who has had much experience in hunting these animals, "expert swimmers and swift of foot, and can get over the roughest ground at a great pace. There is no pluckier beast in Africa than a bush-pig, and even a leopard will hesitate before attacking a full-grown boar. Like all wild creatures, they have an instinctive dread of man, and will always make their escape from him if possible; but if surrounded or wounded and brought to bay, they appear to accept the situation with stolid imperturbability, and die fighting with rare pluck, against all odds, grim and silent to the last.... Face to face in the middle of a 'fast' bush, and only a Swazi 'stabbing-assegai' with which to kill him, ... I have seen an old boar, after receiving nine thrusts from those terrible weapons, two of which were still fast in him, make a charge that scattered us like chaff, and in three consecutive lunges lame one of our number for life, and disembowel two of the finest 'pig-dogs' I ever hunted with. In such encounters a boar inflicts terrible wounds with his teeth, as well as with his tusks." Few men care to face a wart-hog on foot.
Another bush-pig is found in Madagascar, and is known asEdwards' Bush-pig. Its habits are very similar to those of its brethren in the neighbouring continent of Africa.