3^4 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



" 'A nice little pig with a querly tail, 

 All soft as satin and pinky pale, 

 Is a very different thing by far, 

 Than the lumps of iniquity big pigs are.' " 



"The change noted in this rhyme be- 

 tween the little pig and the big one is 



taught to hunt for truffles, which are 

 edible fungi growing upon tree roots 

 far below the surface of the ground. 



"Though the pig's eyes are small, 

 they gleam with intelligence. Pigs are 

 often trained for shows, by teaching 



THE DUROC-JERSEY PIG. 



Cut from the "Cornell Rural School Leaflet. 



not altogether the pig's fault, but rather 

 because of the poor care 'given him by 

 ignorant people who make him a creat- 

 ure of filth. 



"A little pig makes a charming pet. 

 It is pretty and neat and very intelli- 

 gent. It will soon know the little mas- 

 ter or mistress who feeds it, and will 

 follow those it loves like a devoted dog. 

 It is sufficiently clever so that it mav 

 be taught many tricks, and will repay 

 patient training. 



"One of the most interesting things 

 about a j)ig is its nose ; this fleshy disk 

 surrounding the nostrils is a most sen- 

 itive organ of feeling. By its use a pig 

 can select corn from chaff; at the same 

 time it is so strong that with it the 

 ground may be rooted up in search for 

 food. A pig's sense of smell is as keen 

 as that of a dog, and there are many 

 instances on record of a pig being train- 

 ed as a pointer for hunting birds ; it 

 shows a keener intelligence in this capa- 

 city than do dog-. In l^rance, pigs are 



them how to pick out cards and count, 

 and many other intelligent tricks. 

 When the pig is allowed to roam in the 

 woods, it lives on roots, nuts and for- 

 age, being especially fond of acorns 

 and beechnuts ; and it has a remarkable 

 record for destroying rattlesnakes. The 

 pig has quite an extended language 

 which its little master will become in- 

 terested in studying. There is the con- 

 stant grunting which keeps the herd of 

 swine together; there is the squeal of 

 anger and discontent ; the satisfied 

 grunt of enjoyment of food, the squeal 

 of terror, and a nasal growl of defiance, 

 and many more vocal expressions." 



And whatever is missing in the gar- 

 den, the sun-dial must not be lacking. 

 The sun-dial has been beautifully call- 

 ed the "garden altar." Is it not fitting? 

 Nothing so impressively sotmds the re- 

 ligious note of the garden. — Abram 

 Linwood Urban in "The Voice of the 

 Garden." 



