130 MAMMALIA. 



Our second family is that of the 



Pachydermata Ordinaria, — 



Which have four, three, or two toes to their feet. Those in which the toes make even num- 

 bers have feet somewhat cleft, and approximate the Ruminants in various parts of the 

 skeleton, and even in the complication of the stomach. They are usually divided into two 



genera. 



The Hippopotami {Hippopotamus, Lin.) — 



Have four nearly equal toes to each foot, terminated by little hoofs ; six grinders on each side of both 

 jaws, the three anterior of which are conical, the posterior presenting two pairs of points, which, by 

 detrition, assume a trefoil shape ; four incisors above and below, those of the upper jaw short, conical, 

 and recurved, the inferior prolonged, cylindrical, pointed, and horizontally projecting; a canine tooth 

 on each side above and below, the upper straight, the lower very large and recurved, those of the two 

 jaws rubbing against each other. 



These animals have a very massive body, naked of hair ; very short legs, their belly almost 

 touching the ground ; an enormous head, terminated by a swoln muzzle, which encloses the apparatus 

 of their large front teeth ; a short tail, and small eyes and ears. Their stomach is divided into several 

 sacs. They live in rivers, upon roots and other vegetable substances, and display much ferocity and 

 stupidity. 



One living; species only is known, the II. amphibius, Lin., now confined to the rivers of medial and south 

 Africa. It formerly found its way to k.$ ypt by the Nile, but has long disappeared from that country. 



The European freshwater deposits contain the bones of a species of Hippopotamus very similar to that of 

 Africa, and also of two or three others successively smaller. (See my Researches on Fossil Bones, vol. i.) 



The Pigs (Sus, Lin.) — 



Have two large middle toes to each foot, armed with strong hoofs, and two much shorter lateral ones 

 that hardly touch the ground. Their incisors vary in number, but the inferior always slant forward ; 

 the canines project from the mouth and curve upward : muzzle terminated by a truncated snout 

 adapted to turn up the soil, and stomach but slightly divided. 



The Pigs, properly so called, — 



Have from twenty-four to twenty-eight grinders, the posterior of which are oblong, with tuberculated 

 crowns, the anterior more or less compressed, and six incisors to each jaw. 



The Wild Boar (Sits scropha, Lin.), which is the parent stock of our Domestic Hog and its varieties, has pris- 

 matic tusks that curve outward and slightly upward ; the body stout and thick ; straight ears; the hair bristly 

 and black: the young ones are variegated black and white. It does great injury to fields in the neighbourhood 

 of forests, by tearing up the ground in search of roots. 



The Domestic Pig varies in size and length of limbs, in the direction of its ears, and also in colour ; being white 

 or black, sometimes red, and often varied. Every one is acquainted with the usefulness of this animal, on account 

 of the flavour of its flesh, and the length of time it can be preserved by means of salt ; the facility with which it is 

 fed ; and its great fecundity, which surpasses that of all other animals of its size, the female often producing 

 fourteen young at a litter. The period of gestation is four months, and they produce twice a year. The Hog 

 continues to increase in size for five or six years, is prolific at one, and sometimes lives to twenty. Although 

 naturally savage, they are social, both wild and tame, and know how to defend themselves against Wolves, by 

 forming a circle, and presenting a front in every direciion. Voracious and savage, they do not even spare their 

 own young, [at least, if the parent be distui bed soon after their birth]. This species is spread throughout the 

 globe, and none but Jews and Mahometans lefuse to eat its flesh. [It appears to be indigenous only, however, to 

 Europe and Asia, extending to the Peninsula of Hindostan : the Chinese breed is probably a distinct species, 

 though it commingles freely with the other.] 



The Masked Boar (8. larvatus, F. Cuv. ; S. africanus, Schreber ; Sanglier de Madagascar, Daub.)— Tusks like 

 the Common Hog ; but on each side of the muzzle, near the tusks, is a large tubercle, somewhat like the nipple of 

 a woman, supported by a bony prominence, which imparts a singular physiognomy to the animal. It inhabits 

 Madagascar and the south of Africa. 



The Babyroussa (Sus babyrussa, Buff. Supp.)— Longer and more slender legs than the others, with slender tusks 

 turned vertically upwards, those of the upper jaw inclining spirally backward. It inhabits several islands of the 

 Indian Archipelago. [The Papuan Hog (8. papuensis) is another distinct species from New Guinea.] 



From the Pigs require to be separated 



