. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . nd pencil brushes are made of the hair. The flesh of thisanimal takes salt and saltpetre better than any other, and will keep longersalted. This species, though abundant, and greatly spread in Europe, in Africa,and in Asia, was not, however, found on the continent of the New was transported by the Spaniards, who have carried black hogs to thecontinent, and to almost all the large islands of America ; they are multipli- MAMMALIA—BABIROUSSA. 299 ed, and b
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . nd pencil brushes are made of the hair. The flesh of thisanimal takes salt and saltpetre better than any other, and will keep longersalted. This species, though abundant, and greatly spread in Europe, in Africa,and in Asia, was not, however, found on the continent of the New was transported by the Spaniards, who have carried black hogs to thecontinent, and to almost all the large islands of America ; they are multipli- MAMMALIA—BABIROUSSA. 299 ed, and become wild in many places ; and resemble European wild boars,with this difference, that the body is shorter, the head larger, and the skinthicker; and domestic hogs, in warm climates, are all black like wild fecundity of the hog is very great; instances are known of individualsproducing three hundred and twenty-five young in twenty litters, and twohundred and five in twelve litters. The English variety of the hog some-times weighs twelve hundred pounds. There are many other varieties. THE BABIROUSSA, OR INDIAN All naturalists have regarded this animal as a kind of hog, though it hasneither the held, shape, bristles, nor tail of a hog. Its legs are longer andits muzzle shorter. It is covered with soft and short hair like wool; andits tail, which tapers to a fine point, is terminated by a tuft of the same;its body is likewise not so thick and clumsy as that of the hog ; its ears areshort and pointed; its skin is black, and furrowed with wrinkles andcreases ; but the most remarkable character, and what distinguishes it fromall other animals, are four enormous tusks, or canine teeth; the teeth, thetwo shortest of which shootout of the lower jaw, like those of the boar; thetwo others, which come from the upper jaw, pierce the cheeks, or rathei theupper part of the lips, and rise crooked almost to the eyes. These tusksare of a very beautiful ivory, much smoother an
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booky
