Guide to the great fame animals (Ungulata) in the Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History) : Illustrated by 53 text and other figures.

  • British Museum (Natural History). Department of Zoology.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Guide to the great fame animals (Ungulata) in the Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History) : Illustrated by 53 text and other figures. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Hog (Porcula) of the Bhutan and Nepal Terai. Thirdly, the African Bush-Pigs, or River-Hogs (Potamochoerus). In the latter the anterior premolars are generally shed in the adult, and the molars are of a somewhat simpler type, while the skull has some strong rough ridges above the root of the upper tusk. In all, the young are striped. Most of the species go about in herds, or iC sounders,” of considerable size, each headed by an old boar. The lower tusks of the males are terrible weapons of offence, capable of ripping open a horse with one sweep. If the upper tusk be broken, the lower one continues to grow till it forms a circle, as shown by specimens in the North Hall. Two magnificent specimens of the Wild Boar, Sus scrofa (1344)— one a complete skin from Bussia, presented by Count J. Potocki, the other a head from Amurland, the gift of the Hon. Walter Rothschild—are exhibited in the gallery. A fine example of the Indian Wrild Boar, Sus cristatus (1345)—a species taking its name from the crest of long bristles on the nape of the neck—is also shown. In the North Hall is placed an example of the last-named species bred in Windsor Forest, and presented by H.M. the King; it appears to have developed some of the characteristics of the European species. In the North Hall are also exhibited models, heads, and skulls of various domesticated breeds, the derivatives of the European Wild Boar, with perhaps in some cases a cross of Eastern blood. In the Mammal Gallery is shown the common Malay Wild Boar, Sus vittatus (1346) , as well as one of the long-snouted S. barbatus (1347) from Borneo, the gift of Dr. C. Hose. The African Bush-Pigs are represented by the Red River-Hog, Sus [Potamochcerus] porcus (1348) of West Africa, and S. choero- potamus nyasce (1349), one of the examples of the latter presented by Sir Harry Johnston. The Pigmy Hog of North-eastern India, Sus [Porcula] salvanius (1350) is represented by a specimen collected by the original describer of the species, Mr. Brian Hodgson, sometime British Resident at the Court of Khatmandu. Of the great black Forest-Hog, Hylochoerus meinertzhageni [Case 65.] (1351), of the forest-zone of Equatorial Africa, only a skull is at F