THE TRUE PIGS 1019 



ears are small and somewhat erect, and the face is short. According to Mr. D. Low, 

 these pigs ' ' are less hardy and prolific than the native races of Europe, and the 

 females do not yield the same quantity of milk; but they arrive very soon at 

 maturity, they fatten on a small quantity of food, and their flesh is white and deli- 

 cate." The native breeds of Britain, according to the same authority, may be 

 divided into those of small size, with erect or semierect ears; and those with larger 

 bodies and long pendent ears. Nearly all these have, however, been more or less 

 largely crossed with the Siamese, or, as it is often called, the Chinese breed; and the 

 general tendency of modern breeding is toward a reduction in size and uniformity 

 in character. Of the smaller kinds, with short erect ears, one of the most distinct 

 is the Highland breed; these pigs being lean, wiry, grayish animals, of great hardi- 

 hood, roaming over the Scottish moors almost at will, and doing great harm to 

 game and birds. Near the sea they will feed on mollusks and dead fish, and their 

 flesh, at all times coarse, then acquires a fishy taste. They are also found in the 

 Hebrides and Orkneys. 



The larger breeds with pendent, flapping ears are chiefly characteristic of the 

 lowlands, but few now remain which have not been crossed with foreign blood. 

 In color they are mostly white, or white spotted with black. They are long in com- 

 ing to maturity and fatten slowly, but they attain enormous dimensions, and have 

 the advantage of producing large litters, and being excellent mothers. The York- 

 shire and the Lincolnshire breeds, as well as those of the Eastern counties, are large 

 white pigs, with pendent ears; the Essex breed (which has now been largely crossed 

 with the Chinese) being remarkable for the fineness of the skin and the softness of 

 the bristles. The Hampshire is also a noted breed, while the largest of all is the 

 Rudgwick. One of the most valuable is, however, the Berkshire breed, which is 

 somewhat inferior in point of size. Originally these pigs, as shown in the illustra- 

 tion on p. 1014, were generally of a reddish-brown color, with brown or black spots; 

 but by crossing with the Chinese breed, or derivates thereof, the size has been re- 

 duced, and the color changed to black, although, when the crossing has been with 

 the white breed, it is more generally black mixed with white. "The original Berk- 

 shire," writes Mr. Low, "is still regarded as one of the superior breeds of England, 

 combining size with a sufficient aptitude to fatten, and being fitted for pork and ba- 

 con, and it is held to be the hardiest of the more improved races." The Harrison 

 pig, figured on p. 1016, is intended to exhibit one of the best types of fattening 

 breeds; while the white dwarf Chinese pig, represented in the illustration on p. 1018, 

 exhibits the greatest diminution in size, coupled with an almost completely cylindri- 

 cal form of body. 



It may be observed that although the usual mode of life led by pigs in England 

 is not calculated to develop their intellectual faculties, yet they are by no means de- 

 ficient in intelligence, and display a remarkable acuteness of scent. Indeed, a pig 

 has been trained to stand to game as steadily as the best-bred pointer. 



Before taking leave of domesticated swine, we must not omit to 



Mas ^ ed ine mention the curious Japanese masked pig, represented in the figure on 



p. 1020. "This pig," writes Darwin, "has an extraordinary appearance, 



from its short head, broad forehead and nose, great fleshy ears and deeply-furrowed 



