298 MAMMALIA— HOG 



found. A recent French writer on the noble science of gastronomy ludi- 

 crously denominates the hog, " the Christopher Columbus of the truffle." 



That hogs are not destitute of sagacity, is proved by the long succession 

 of learned pigs which, for so many years, have been trained to astonish the 

 multitude at fairs, and other places, where numbers of persons are con- 

 gregated. 



The wild boar is hunted by dogs, or else taken by surprise in the night by 

 the light of the moon. As he runs but slowly, leaves a strong odor behind 

 him, defends himself against the dogs, and wounds them dangerously, so he 

 should not be hunted by dogs designed for the stag and the goat ; for this 

 hunting spoils their scent, and teaches them to go slowly. The oldest only 

 should be attacked, and these are easily known by their traces ; a young 

 wild boar, of three years old, is difficult to take, because he runs a great 

 way without stopping ; instead of which, a wild boar that is older does not 

 run far, suffers himself to be closely hunted, and has no great fear of the 

 dogs. In the day, he usually hides himself in the thickest and most unfre- 

 quented part of the wood ; and in the evening, and at night, he goes out to 

 seek for food. In summer, when the corn is ripe, it is easy to surprise 

 him ; but mostly so among oats, where he frequents every night. As soon as 

 he is killed, the hunters immediately cut out the testes, the smell of which 

 is so strong, that if five or six hours were to elapse without euit^c Uiem 

 out, all the flesh would be infected ; and in an old wild boar tne .leac only 

 is good to eat ; instead of which, the flesh of the young wild boar is 

 extremely delicate. 



No person that has lived in the country ever so little, is ignorant of the 

 profits arising from the hog ; his flesh sells for more than that of the ox ; the 

 lard is valuable ; the blood, the bowels, the viscera, the feet, and the tongue, 

 when properly prepared, are all fit to eat. The dung of the hog is much 

 colder than that of other animals, and should not be used for any but hot 

 and dry lands. The skin has its use, for saddles are made of it ; and 

 brooms, brushes, and pencil brushes are made of the hair. The flesh of this 

 animal takes salt and saltpetre better than any other, and will keep longer 

 salted. 



This species, though abundant, and greatly spread in Europe, in Africa, 

 and in Asia, was not, however, found on the continent of the New World. 

 It was transported by the Spaniards, who have carried black hogs to the 

 continent, and to almost all the large islands of America ; they are multipli- 



