the time I take in telling it, the creature was crushed and
devoured."

After hearing the singular tale, our conversation now returned to the
hog we had just "jumped." All agreed that it must be some stray from
the plantations that had wandered thus far from the haunts of men, for
there was no settlement within twenty miles of where we then were.

Our trapper guides stated that wild hogs are frequently found in remote
parts, and that many of them are not "strays," but have been "littered"
and brought up in the forest. These are as shy and difficult to
approach as deer, or any other hunted animals. They are generally of a
small breed, and it is supposed that they are identical with the species
found throughout Mexico, and introduced by the Spaniards.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

TREED BY PECCARIES.

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-lippe