THE PIGS 



1009 



nished with complete metacarpals, as shown in the accompaning figure. In these 

 respects the pigs, are, however, approached by the water chevrotain (p. 989) ; and they 

 also resemble all the chevrotains in having a conical process on 

 the front of the second vertebra of the neck for articulation 

 with the first of that series. 



All members of the pig-like group technically known 

 as the Suina have front or incisor teeth in their upper jaws, 

 and their lower tusks are quite unlike, and distinct from the 

 incisors. Further in correlation with the absence of the power 

 of rumination, the stomachs of these animals are always less 

 complex than those of the Ruminants, and they may be per- 

 fectly simple, and comprise only a single chamber. It is, per- 

 haps, well to add that pig-like animals existed at a date when 

 Ruminants were unknown, as, indeed, must necessarily have 

 been the case if the one group be the ancestor of the other. 



With these introductory remarks as to the characteristics of 

 the members of the group, and their relationship through ex- 

 tinct forms with the Ruminants we may proceed to the con- 

 sideration of the existing pig-like Ungulates, which are 

 divided into the three families of the Pigs, the Peccaries, 

 and the Hippopotami. 



THE PIGS 

 Family SuiD^ 



The pigs, or swine, of which there are three existing generic types, are such 

 well-known animals that but little description is necessary. They are however, 



THE BONES of THE 



LEFT FORE-FOOT OF 

 THE PIG. 



(From Dawkins.) 



SKUI,!. OF THE BEARDED PIG. 



(From Nehring.) 



distinguished from the other members of the group to which they belong by the 

 following assemblage of characteristics. The head and skull are greatly elongated, 

 .and the muzzle terminates in an abruptly-truncated mobile snout, with a disc-like 

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