Talking of these Spanish hogs naturally led us to the subject of the
peccary--for this creature is an inhabitant only of those parts of North
America which have been hitherto in possession of the Spanish race. Of
the peccary (_dicotyles_), there are two distinct species known--the
"collared," and the "white-lipped." In form and habits they are very
similar to each other. In size and colour they differ. The
"white-lipped" is the larger. Its colour is dark brown, nearly black,
while that of the collared peccary is a uniform iron-grey, with the
exception of the band or collar upon its shoulders.
The distinctive markings are, on the former species a greyish-white
patch along the jaws, and on the other a yellowish-white belt, embracing
the neck and shoulders, as a collar does a horse. These markings have
given to each its specific name. They are farther distinguished, by the
forehead of the white-lipped peccary being more hollowed or concave than
that of its congener.
In most other respects these creatures are alike. Both feed upon roots,
fruits, frogs, toads, lizards, and snakes. Both make their lair in
hollow logs, or in caves among the rocks, and both are gregarious in
their habits. In this last habit, however, they exhibit some
difference. The white-lipped species associate in troops to the number
of hundreds, and even as many as a thousand have been seen together;
whereas the others do not live in such large droves, but are oftener met
with in pairs. Yet this difference of habit may arise from the fact
that in the places where both have been observed, the latter have not
been so plentiful as the white-lipped species. As many as a hundred of
the collared peccary have been observed in one "gang," and no doubt had
there been more of them in the neighbourhood, the flock would have been
still larger.
The white-lipped species does not extend to the northern half of the
American Continent. Its _habitat_ is in the great tropical forests of
Guyana and Brazil, and it is found much farther south, being common in
Paraguay. It is there known as the "vaquira," whence our word
"peccary." The other species is also found in South America, and is
distinguished as the "vaquira de collar" (collared peccary). Of course,
they both have trivial Indian names, differing in different parts of the
country. The former is called in Paraguay "Tagnicati," while the latter
is the "Taytetou."
Neither species is so numerous as they were informer times. They have
been thinned off by hunting--not for the value either of their flesh or
their skins, not for the mere sport either, but on account of their
destructive habits. In the neighbourhood of settlements they make
frequent forays into the maize and mandioc fields, and they will lay
waste a plantation of sugar-cane in a single night. For this reason it
is that a war of extermination has long been waged against them by the
planters and their dependents.
As already stated, it is believed that the white-lipped species is not
found in North America. Probably it does exist in the forests of
Southern Mexico. The natural history of these countries is yet to be
thoroughly investigated. The Mexicans have unfortunately employed all
their time in making revolutions. But a new period has arrived. The
Panama railroad, the Nicaragua canal, and the route of Tehuantepec, will
soon be open, when among the foremost who traverse these hitherto
unfrequented regions, will be found troops of naturalists, of the
Audubon school, who will explore every nook and corner of Central
America. Indeed, already some progress has been made in this respect.
The two species of peccaries, although so much alike never associate
together, and do not seem to have any knowledge of a relationship
existing between them. Indeed, what is very singular, they are never
found in the same tract of woods. A district frequented by the one is
always without the other.
The Collared Peccary is the species found in North America; and of it we
more particularly speak. It is met with when you approach the more
southern latitudes westward of the Mississippi River. In that great
wing of the continent, to the eastward of this river, and now occupied
by the United States, no such animal exists, nor is there any proof that
it was ever known to exist there in its wild state. In the territory of
Texas, it is a common animal, and its range extends westward to the
Pacific, and south throughout the remainder of the Continent.
As you proceed westwards, the line of its range rises considerably; and
in New Mexico it is met with as high as the 38rd parallel. This is just
following the isothermal line, and proves that the peccary cannot endure
the rigours of a severe winter climate. It is a production of the
tropics and the countries adjacent.
Some naturalists assert that it is a forest-dwelling animal, and is
never seen in open countries. Others, as Buffon, state that it makes
its _habitat_ in the mountains, never the low countries and plains;
while still others have declared that it is never found in the
mountains!
None of these "theories" appears to be the correct one. It is
well-known to frequent the forest-covered plains of Texas, and Emory
(one of the most talented of modern observers) reports having met with a
large drove of peccaries in the almost treeless mountains of New Mexico.
The fact is, the peccary is a wide "ranger," and frequents either
plains or mountains wherever he can find the roots or fruits which
constitute his natural food. The haunts he likes best appear to be the
dry hilly woods, where he finds several species of nuts to his taste--
such as the chinquapin (_Castanea pumila_), the pecan (_Juglans
olivaformis_), and the acorns of several species of oak, with which the
half-prairie country of western Texas abounds.
Farther than to eat their fruit, the forest trees are of no use to the
peccary. He is not a climber, as he is a hoofed animal. But in the
absence of rocks, or crevices in the cliffs, he makes his lair in the
bottoms of hollow trees, or in the great cavities so common in
half-decayed logs. He prefers, however, a habitation among rocks, as
experience has no doubt taught him that it is a safer retreat both from
hunters and fire.
The peccary is easily distinguished from the other forest animals by his
rounded, hog-like form, and long, sharp snout. Although pig-shaped, he
is extremely active and light in his movements. The absence of a tail--
for that member is represented only by a very small protuberance or
"knob"--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 desire for wholesale slaughter.
Hounds are employed to track the peccary and bring it to bay, when the
hunters ride up and finish the chase by their unerring rifles.
A flock of peccaries, when pursued, will sometimes take shelter in a
cave or cleft of the rocks, one of their number standing ready at the
mouth. When this one is shot by the hunter, another will immediately
rush out and take its place. This too being destroyed, will be replaced
by a third, and so on until the whole drove has fallen.
Should the hounds attack the peccary while by themselves, and without
the aid and encouragement of the hunter, they are sure to be "routed,"
and some of their number destroyed. Indeed, this little creature, of
not more than two feet in length, is a match for the stoutest bull-dog!
I have myself seen a peccary (a caged one, too)--that had killed no less
than six dogs of bull and mastiff breed--all of them considered fighting
dogs of first-rate reputation.
The Kentuckian had a peccary adventure which had occurred to him while
on an excursion to the new settlements of Texas. "It was my first
introduction to these animals," began he, "and I am not likely soon to
forget it. It gave me, among the frontier settlers of Texas, the
reputation of a `mighty hunter,' though how far I deserved that name you
may judge for yourselves.
"I was for some weeks the guest of a farmer or `planter,' who lived upon
the Trinity Bottom. We had been out in the `timber' several times, and
had filled both bear, deer, and turkeys, but had not yet had the luck to
fall in with the peccary, although we never went abroad without seeing
their tracks, or some other indications of what my friend termed
`peccary sign.' The truth is, that these animals possess the sense of
smell in the keenest degree; and they are usually hidden long before the
hunter can see them or come near them. As we had gone without dogs, of
course we were not likely to discover which of the nine hundred and
ninety-nine hollow logs passed in a day, was the precise one in which
the peccaries had taken shelter.
"I had grown very curious about these creatures. Bear I had often
hunted--deer I had driven; and turkeys I had both trapped and shot. But
I had never yet killed a peccary; in fact, had never seen one. I was
therefore very desirous of adding the tusk of one of these wild boars to
my trophies of the chase.
"My desire was gratified sooner than I expected, and to an extent I had
never dreamt of; for in one morning--before tasting my breakfast--I
caused no less than nineteen of these animals to utter their last
squeak! But I shall give the details of this `feat' as they happened.
"It was in the autumn season--the most beautiful season of the forest--
when the frondage obtains its tints of gold, orange, and purple. I was
abed in the house of my friend, but was awakened out of my sleep by the
`gobbling' of wild turkeys that sounded close to the place.
"Although there was not a window in my room, the yellow beams streaming
in through the chinks of the log wall told me that it was after
`sun-up.'
"I arose, drew on my garments and hunting-habiliments, took my rifle,
and stole out. I said nothing to any one, as there was no one--neither
`nigger' nor white man--to be seen stirring about the place. I wanted
to steal a march upon my friend, and show him how smart I was by bagging
a fat young `gobbler' for breakfast.
"As soon as I had got round the house, I saw the turkeys--a large `gang'
of them. They were out in an old corn-field, feeding upon such of the
seeds as had been dropped in the corn-gathering. They were too far off
for my gun to reach them, and I entered among the corn-stalks to get
near them.
"I soon perceived that they were feeding towards the woods, and that
they were likely to enter them at a certain point. Could I only reach
that point before them, reflected I, I should be sure of a fair shot. I
had only to go back to the house and keep around the edge of the field,
where there happened to be some `cover.' In this way I should be sure
to `head' them--that is, could I but reach the woods in time.
"I lost not a moment in setting out; and, running most of the way, I
reached the desired point.
"I was now about a mile from my friend's house--for the corn-field was a
very large one--such as you may only see in the great plantations of the
far western world. I saw that I had `headed' the turkeys, with some
time to spare; and choosing a convenient log, I sat down to await their
coming. I placed myself in such a situation that I was completely
hidden by the broad green leaves of some bushy trees that grew over the
log.
"I had not been in that position over a minute I should think, when a
slight rustling among the leaves attracted my attention. I looked, and
saw issuing from under the rubbish the long body of a snake. As yet, I
could not see its tail, which was hidden by the grass; but the form of
the head and the peculiar chevron-like markings of the body, convinced
me it was the `Banded Rattle-snake.' It was slowly gliding out into
some open ground, with the intention of crossing to a thicket upon the
other side. I had disturbed it from the log, where it had no doubt been
sunning itself; and it was now making away from me.
"My first thought was to follow the hideous reptile, and kill it; but
reflecting that if I did so I should expose myself to the view of the
turkeys, I concluded to remain where I was, and let it escape.
"I watched it slowly drawing itself along--for this species makes but
slow progress--until it was near the middle of the glade, when I again
turned my attention to the birds that had now advanced almost within
range of my gun.
"I was just getting ready to fire, when a strange noise, like the grunt
of a small pig, sounded in my ears from the glade, and again caused me
to look in that direction. As I did so, my eyes fell upon a curious
little animal just emerging from the bushes. Its long, sharp snout--its
pig-like form--the absence of a tail--the high rump, and whitish band
along the shoulders, were all marks of description which I remembered.
The animal could be no other than a peccary.
"As I gazed upon it with curious eyes, another emerged from the bushes,
and then another, and another, until a good-sized drove of them were in
sight.
"The rattle-snake, on seeing the first one, had laid his head flat upon
the ground; and evidently terrified, was endeavouring to conceal himself
in the grass. But it was a smooth piece of turf, and he did not
succeed. The peccary had already espied him; and upon the instant his
hinder parts were raised to their full height, his mane became rigid,
and the hair over his whole body stood erect, radiating on all sides
outwards. The appearance of the creature was changed in an instant, and
I could perceive that the air was becoming impregnated with a
disagreeable odour, which the incensed animal emitted from its dorsal
gland. Without stopping longer than a moment, he rushed forward, until
he stood within three feet of the body of the snake.
"The latter, seeing he could no longer conceal himself, threw himself
into a coil, and stood upon his defence. His eyes glared with a fiery
lustre: the skir-r-r of his rattles could be heard almost incessantly;
while with his upraised head he struck repeatedly in the direction of
his enemy.
"These demonstrations brought the whole drove of peccaries to the spot,
and in a moment a circle of them had formed around the reptile, that did
not know which to strike at, but kept launching out its head recklessly
in all directions. The peccaries stood with their backs highly arched
and their feet drawn up together, like so many angry cats, threatening
and uttering shrill grunts. Then one of them, I think the first that
had appeared, rose suddenly into the air, and with his four hoofs held
close together, came pounce down upon the coiled body of the snake.
Another followed in a similar manner, and another, and another, until I
could see the long carcase of the reptile unfolded, and writhing over
the ground.
"After a short while it lay still, crushed beneath their feet. The
whole squad then seized it in their teeth, and tearing it to pieces,
devoured it almost instantaneously.
"From the moment the peccaries had appeared in sight, I had given up all
thoughts about the turkeys. I had resolved to send my leaden messenger
in quite a different direction. Turkeys I could have at almost any
time; but it was not every day that peccaries appeared. So I `slewed'
myself round upon the log, raised my rifle cautiously, `marked' the
biggest `boar' I could see in the drove, and fired.
"I heard the boar squeak (so did all of them), and saw him fall over,
either killed or badly wounded. But I had little time to tell which,
for the smoke had hardly cleared out of my eyes, when I perceived the
whole gang of peccaries, instead of running away, as I had expected,
coming full tilt towards me.
"In a moment I was surrounded by a dark mass of angry creatures, leaping
wildly at my legs, uttering shrill grunts, and making their teeth crack
like castanets.
"I ran for the highest part of the log, but this proved no security.
The peccaries leaped upon it, and followed. I struck with the butt of
my clubbed gun, and knocked them off; but again they surrounded me,
leaping upward and snapping at my legs, until hardly a shred remained of
my trousers.
"I saw that I was in extreme peril, and put forth all my energies. I
swept my gun wildly around me; but where one of the fierce brutes was
knocked over, another leaped into his place, as determined as he. Still
I had no help for it, and I shouted at the top of my voice, all the
while battling with desperation.
"I still kept upon the highest point of the log, as there they could not
all come around me at once; and I saw that I could thus better defend
myself. But even with this advantage, the assaults of the animals were
so incessant, and my exertions in keeping them off so continuous, that I
was in danger of falling into their jaws from very exhaustion.
"I was growing weak and wearied--I was beginning to despair for my
life--when on winding my gun over my head in order to give force to my
blows, I felt it strike against something behind me. It was the branch
of a tree, that stretched over the spot where I was standing.
"A new thought came suddenly into my mind. Could I climb the tree? I
knew that they could not, and in the tree I should be safe.
"I looked upward; the branch was within reach. I seized upon it and
brought it nearer. I drew a long breath, and with all the strength that
remained in my body sprang upward.
"I succeeded in getting upon the limb, and the next moment I had crawled
along it, and sat close in by the trunk. I breathed freely--I was safe.
"It was some time before I thought of anything else than resting myself.
I remained a full half-hour before I moved in my perch. Occasionally I
looked down at my late tormentors. I saw that instead of going off,
they were still there. They ran around the root of the tree, leaping up
against its trunk, and tearing the bark with their teeth. They kept
constantly uttering their shrill, disagreeable grunts; and the odour,
resembling the smell of musk and garlic, which they emitted from their
dorsal glands, almost stifled me. I saw that they showed no disposition
to retire, but, on the contrary, were determined to make me stand siege.
"Now and then they passed out to where their dead comrade lay upon the
grass, but this seemed only to bind their resolution the faster, for
they always returned again, grunting as fiercely as ever.
"I had hopes that my friend would be up by this time, and would come to
my rescue; but it was not likely neither, as he would not `miss' me
until I had remained long enough to make my absence seem strange. As it
was, that would not be until after night, or perhaps far in the next
day. It was no unusual thing for me to wander off with my gun, and be
gone for a period of at least twenty hours.
"I sat for hours on my painful perch--now looking down at the spiteful
creatures beneath--now bending my eyes across the great corn-field, in
hopes of seeing some one. At times the idea crossed my mind, that even
upon the morrow I might not be missed!
"I might perish with hunger, with thirst--I was suffering from both at
the moment--or even if I kept alive, I might become so weak as not to be
able to hold on to the tree. My seat was far from being an easy one.
The tree was small--the branch was slender. It was already cutting into
my thighs. I might, in my feebleness, be compelled to let it go, and
then--.
"These reflections were terrible; and as they came across my mind, I
shouted to the highest pitch of my voice, hoping I should be heard.
"Up to this time I had not thought of using my gun, although clinging to
it instinctively. I had brought it with me into the tree. It now
occurred to me to fire it, in hopes that my friend or some one might
hear the report.
"I balanced myself on the branch as well as I could, and loaded it with
powder. I was about to fire it off in the air, when it appeared to me
that I might just as well reduce the number of my enemies. I therefore
rammed down a ball, took aim at the forehead of one, and knocked him
over.
"Another idea now arose in my mind, and that was, that I might serve the
whole gang as I had done this one. His fall had not frightened them in
the least; they only came nearer, throwing up their snouts and uttering
their shrill notes--thus giving me a better chance of hitting them.
"I repeated the loading and firing. Another enemy the less.
"Hope began to return. I counted my bullets, and held my horn up to the
sun. There were over twenty bullets, and powder sufficient. I counted
the peccaries. Sixteen still lived, with three that I had done for.
"I again loaded and fired--loaded and fired--loaded and fired. I aimed
so carefully each time, that out of all I missed only one shot.
"When the firing ceased, I dropped down from my perch in the midst of a
scene that resembled a great slaughter-yard. Nineteen of the creatures
lay dead around the tree, and the ground was saturated with their blood!
"The voice of my friend at this moment sounded in my ears, and turning,
I beheld him standing, with hands uplifted and eyes as large as saucers.
"The `feat' was soon reported through the settlement, and I was looked
upon for the time as the greatest hunter in the `Trinity Bottom.'"