b"--imparts a character of lightness to his body. His jaws are
those of the hog, and a single pair of tusks, protruding near the angles
of the mouth, gives him a fierce and dangerous aspect. These tusks are
seen in the old males or "boars." The ears are short, and almost buried
in the long harsh hairs or bristles that cover the whole body, but which
are much longer on the back. These, when erected or thrown forward--as
is the case when the peccary is incensed--have the appearance of a stiff
mane rising all along the neck, shoulders, and spine. At such times,
indeed, the rigid, bristling coat over the whole body gives somewhat of
a porcupine appearance to the animal.

The peccary, as already stated, is gregarious. They wander in droves of
twenty, or sometimes more. This, however, is only in the winter. In
the season of love, and during the period of gestation, they are met
with only in pairs--a male and female. They are very true to each
other, and keep close together.

The female produces two young at a litter. These are of a reddish-brown
colour, and at first not larger than young puppies; but they are soon
able to follow the mother through the woods; and then the "family party"
usually consists of four.

Later in the season, several of these families unite, and remain
together, partly perhaps from having met by accident, and partly for
mutual protection; for whenever one of their number is attacked, all the
drove takes part against the assailant, whether he be hunter, cougar, or
lynx. As they use both their teeth, tusks, and sharp fore-hoofs with
rapidity and effect, they become a formidable and dangerous enemy.

The cougar is often killed and torn to pieces by a drove of peccaries,
that he has been imprudent enough to attack. Indeed, this fierce
creature will not often meddle with the peccaries when he sees them in
large numbers. He attacks only single ones; but their "grunting," which
can be heard to the distance of nearly a mile, summons the rest, and he
is surrounded before he is aware of it, and seized by as many as can get
around him.

The Texan hunter, if afoot, will not dare to disturb a drove of
peccaries. Even when mounted, unless the woods be open, he will pass
them by without rousing their resentment. But, for all this, the animal
is hunted by the settlers, and hundreds are killed annually. Their
ravages committed upon the corn-fields make them many enemies, who go
after them with a de