'272 Inquiries as to Changes in Domestic Animals 



in New Grenada and in a part of Venezeula, between the 3rd 

 and 10th degrees of north latitude, and the 70th and 80th de- 

 grees of west longitude, where, in some parts, there was a mean 

 temperature of 56, and in others of 77 or 86. The quadrupeds 

 which have been transported from the old to the new conti- 

 nent, he observes, " are the hog, the horse, the ass, the sheep, 

 the goat, the cow, the dog, and the cat." The first hogs 

 were carried to America by Columbus, and established in the 

 island of St. Domingo, in November, 1493, and in succeeding 

 years were carried to all places where the Spaniards settled, 

 so that in half a century they were found in the new world 

 between 25 N. and 4 S. latitude. They nowhere seemed to 

 suffer from the change of climate, and from the commence- 

 ment propagated with the same facility as in Europe. 



Being allowed to run wild in the woods, they have lost 

 all the marks of servitude; the ears have become erect, the 

 head broadened, and raised at the upper part, and the color 

 has become a permanent black in the adults, — in the young, 

 there are yellowish lines on a dark ground. The hair is thin. 

 and they present the appearance of a wild boar of the sanu 

 size, (from twelve to fifteen months,) while in the moun- 

 tains, at an elevation of 2500 yards, they assume much of the 

 aspect of the wild boar of our forests, from the thickness of 

 the hair, which becomes curled, and in some individuals [even 

 presents a kind of wool on the under parts. The hog, at the 

 elevation mentioned, is small and dwarfish, from cold and 

 want of sufficient food. Though black be the general color, 

 yet, in some warm parts, it is red, like the pecari in its early 

 age, and there are some which are called chiuchados, from their 

 having under the belly a broad white band, which commonly ex- 

 tends on either side to the back, so as to meet there, sometime* 

 becoming narrower and sometimes retaining the same breadth. 

 The young individuals of this variety, have the same mark- 

 ings, as those which are entirely black. The only hogs re- 

 sembling those of France, were imported about twenty years 

 ago, from the United States of America, were the race had 

 existed for a long time, in a climate, however, very like that 

 of France. 



The establishment of black cattle in America, took place 

 upon Columbus's second voyage to St. Domingo. They mul- 

 tiplied there rapidly, and from thence were carried to the 

 continent. In twenty-seven years from the discovery of the 

 island, herds were met with of 4000 and even 8000 head. In 

 1587, the number of hides exported from St. Domingo, were 

 35,454; and from the parts of New Spain, 64,350. " As 

 long as the cattle were in small numbers, and grouped around 

 the dwellings, they thrived equally well in all places, but 

 when they had multiplied, it was perceived, that, in certain 



