238 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



tration. A tail is a positive, natural, and hereditary appendage 

 to the quadruped race, and every animal is entitled to the com- 

 forts and benefits derived from the nse of one. A tale is only 

 a negative, artificial and modern appendage, and is found in use 

 more generally in the higher circles of fashionable bipeds ; and 

 hence it is that we observe so many of our most genteel and 

 even fastidious species, hurrying to the celebrated watering 

 places with their tales in hand, and reading their history while 

 riding in the cars. But, as it is claimed that every well mod- 

 elled and discreetly managed tale has a morale your committee 

 cannot offer a single objection to their use, but Avould rather 

 desire that every man, woman and child in the community 

 should have a tale of their own, and watch with eager solicitude 

 the development of its moral. But in constructing one for the 

 special use of the members of tliis society, your committee feel 

 great diffidence, for they would not be considered as tale bear- 

 ers ; and since long tales on swine are even considered super- 

 fluous, they will present the important matter in two parts. 



Considering it an imposed duty to discriminate and distinctly 

 examine the several classes of animals which come under their 

 inspection, the committee ask a moment's indulgence in point- 

 ing out the line of demarcation between two classes of animals 

 somewhat homogeneous in their nature and habits, yet possess- 

 ing such dissimilar traits of character as to justify a comparative 

 view of both. We speak of the boar proper, and the proper 

 bore : — the latter a distinct breed, although not recognized in 

 any modern herd-book, probably from the fact that its repre- 

 sentatives have no character worth the record. But it is a fixed 

 fact, that under all circumstances, a proper bore completes the 

 record of his class. There are not a few of this species that 

 assume a large share of political importance, about the time of 

 our annual elections, and such occasions are to them what our 

 annual cattle shows are to the race of lioars, viz. : an hour of 

 competition for the premiums. The highest premium ever 

 awarded to the class of bores was disposed of at the last presi- 

 dential election. The true, original boar never meddles with 

 politics, and this is a distinctive point in his character. 



The two races afford an instructive study. Examine their 

 ambrotypes — a modern improvement in presenting correct pic- 

 tures — and we shall observe more clearly their relation, and the 



