460 MODERlf FARRIER. 



If colour deserve any consideration, he should prefer 

 the light and sandy and yellow-spotted ; at least such 

 skins appear far the most delicate when dead. In 

 respect to the skin of pork, he gives a preference to 

 the thick over the tliin skin : and he remarks, that 

 our best bred pigs are often thick-skinned ; but 

 such skin is tender, gelatinous, shining, easy to 

 masticate, even in the shape of roasted crackhng, 

 and verv nutritious; whereas to eat the crackhng 

 of thin-skinned pork, case-hardened by the action of 

 fire, requires teeth equal to the divis.ion of block-tin. 

 The health of swine is to be estimated by their 

 cheerfulness, by the gloss upon their coats, and their 

 skin being whole and free from eruption. It is an 

 extremely unfavourable indication when the head is 

 hung down, the snout approaching the earth like a 

 fifth leg. and v/hen the flanks heave and are hollow. 

 If pigs hark (snort) on being alarmed, it is an excel- 

 lent sign of sound health and good keep. 



6. Various Breeds. 



It may be observed, that the breeds or varieties of 

 these animals are so extremely numerous, that al- 

 most every county or district of the kingdom is in 

 possession* of a particular kind. But they may be 

 distinguished into the large and small sorts, of the 

 former of whicli, the following are the most valuable 

 breeds : 



7. The Berkshire Breed. 



This is a breed which is distinguished by being in 

 general of a tavvMiy, white, or reddish colour, spotted 

 with black ; large ears hanging over the eyes; thick, 

 close, and v»^e]l made in the body; legs short; small 

 in the bone, having a disposition to fatten quickly : 

 when well fed, the flesh is fine. The above county 

 has been long famous for its breed of swine. But, 

 according to the author of the Treatise on Live 



