*The Natural History of Selborne 291 



litters in the year of about ten at a time, and once above 

 twenty at a litter ; but, as there were near double the number 

 of pigs to that of teats many died. From long experience in 

 the world this female was grown very sagacious and artful. 

 When she found occasion to converse with a boar she used 

 to open all the intervening gates, and march, by herself, up 

 to a distant farm where one was kept ; and when her purpose 

 was served would return by the same means. At the age of 

 about fifteen her litters began to be reduced to four or five; 

 and such a litter she exhibited when in her fatting-pen. She 

 proved, when fat, good bacon, juicy, and tender ; the rind, or 

 sward, was remarkably thin. At a moderate computation she 

 was allowed to have been the fruitful parent of three hun- 

 dred pigs : a prodigious instance of fecundity in so large a 

 quadruped ! She was killed in spring 1775. 



I am, &c. 



