372 PIGS 



The Essex pig is altogether black. Though not so 

 widely known as the Small White, it is well bred, and possesses 

 excellent points, including a compact symmetrical figure and 

 a small well-formed head. Like other varieties of the same 

 black type, notably Dorsets and Suffolks, it has become by 

 natural selection well suited to local conditions. All these 

 breeds are improvements on the old forms of the localities 

 which give the names. 



The Sussex breed is more blue or slate colour than black, 

 and it is a local breed of very " distinct type and character." 

 It is not so compact and shapely as the other small dark 

 breeds, but it is well adapted to the conditions prevailing in 

 its own county. 



The Tamworth or Staffordshire Breed, from the 

 neighbourhood of Birmingham, seems to be the most direct 

 descendant of the aboriginal pig of the country. If crossed 

 with the imported Neapolitan and Chinese pigs, which were 

 used in the improvement, or more correctly the refinement, 

 of all the other breeds of this country, the influence of the 

 cross has not been so distinct, as may be seen from the 

 natural activity or restlessness of the Tamworth, the greater 

 length of snout, and the greater tendency to grow a large 

 proportion of lean bacon. In this respect the Tamworth 

 resembles the Large Yorkshire and the Large Black, and in its 

 improved form it is a favourite with bacon-curers, who object 

 to a great proportion of fat, a heavy jowl, and excessive 

 breadth of back. The common uncared-for specimens of the 

 breed are undoubtedly leggy, ungainly in appearance, and 

 slow-maturity animals, but these defects have within the last 

 twenty years been greatly modified, it is said, by crossing 

 with the Yorkshire breeds. The improved pigs still retain 

 the great length of snout and hardiness of constitution of 

 the original breed, and are through selection attaining the 

 power to lay on flesh rapidly. They have rather large ears, 

 carried rigid, and inclined slightly forward, with a fine fringe ; 

 a fairly long and muscular neck, especially in the boar ; strong 

 and shapely legs with good bone, and an abundant coat of 

 long, straight, and fine hair. The colour of the breed is 

 reddish or chestnut, sometimes a tawny grey with black 



