'It was an animal about the size of a wolf, and of a
dark-gray or blackish colour. Its body was compact, round-shaped, and
covered, not with hair, but with shaggy bristles, that along the ridge
of its back were nearly six inches in length, and gave it the
appearance of having a mane. It had very short ears, no tail whatever,
or only a knob; and we could see that its feet were hoofed, not clawed
as in beasts of prey. But whether beast of prey or not, its long
mouth, with two white tusks protruding over the jaws, gave it a very
formidable appearance. Its head and nose resembled those of the hog
more than any other animal; and in fact it was nothing else than the
peccary--the wild hog of Mexico.'
The moccason did not wait to parley with his enemy, but skulked away
through the long grass, every now and then raising his head to glare
behind him. But the peccary tracked him by the smell, and on coming up
to him, uttered a shrill grunt. 'The snake, finding that he was
overtaken, threw himself into a coil, and prepared to give battle;
while his antagonist, now looking more like a great porcupine than a
pig, drew back, as if to take the advantage of a run; and then halted.
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