A FIERCE FOREST DENIZEN

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 80, 28 December 1921, Page 8

A FIERCE FOREST DENIZEN

THE “CAPTAIN COOKER.”

(Contributed.)

When. Captain James Cook turned loose three pige in Queen Charlotte Sound in 1773 he expressed the hope that they would thrive and stock the island. Even with the widespread denudation of forests that has gone on since that early date, the wild pig is still very much in evidence wherever sufficient bush has been left to harbour it. Feeding on fern root and the various wild berries in season, the pig does pretty well as q rule, and if he would only confine his appetite to this simple diet he would be thought a good deal more of. Unfortunately, he has developed a taste for early lamb, as most big run-holders know to their cost. Some years back, farmers in the Waitotara Valley suffered from a perfect plague of wild pigs, which sallied out from the bush and caused considerable havoc amongst the lamins. The writer happened to be visiting one of the up-valley stations at this time, and saw six fine pigs shot down in succession as they made off up a lending spur for the bush after a supper of lamb. One of the raiders was a fine specimen of the "Captain Cooker,” having a long rakish snout, armed with razor-like tusks. These old boars are ugly customers to tackle in the bush, yet it is a common practice for a skilled bushman, armed with a good sheath-knife, and aided by a strong pig-dog, to step fearlessly in and administer the "coup de grace.” One old boar bagged that same season in the Waitotara had a neat groove long the centre of his back, where a heavy calibre bullet had at some time or other g-az-xl along, giving him tlm escape of his lifetime. When bailed up in a corner, the bush Ixiar presents the most devilish appearance imaginable. Ills little eyes sparkle with concentrated Imle, (he bristles on his big'll shoulders stick up like a quivering furze bush, and foam flies from his champing jaws. Personally, the writer prefers a handy rifle, in spite of having watched old bushmen, whose dog had got a heftv bon- bv the ear, leap astride the pig and knife him thoroughly and well.