THE PIG. 8 1 



bosom of his family he maintains a steady, if to man 

 monotonous, conversation. He possesses a large variety of 

 notes, in this respect far surpassing any other animal. The 

 cat has an extensive register, but principally among the 

 high notes ; while the pig's tones embrace the whole gamut, 

 from the deep grunt of discontent to the wild shriek of 

 despair. Properly educated, the pig should be capable of 

 vocal triumphs of a very high kind, its upper notes being as 

 clear and no more unpleasant than the corresponding ones 

 of an operatic soprano, while the lower ones would be the 

 envy of a basso profundo. It is a little singular that no 

 persistent effort should have been made to utilise the pig's 

 vocal powers in this direction, although he has at times 

 been taught to spell and to perform other feats requiring 

 as high an intelligence as that of singing. 



The pig is capable of adapting himself to all and any 

 circumstances in which he may find himself. In Ireland it 

 complacently accepts the position of a member of the 

 family ; in Africa and the East, where flesh is not in demand, 

 and no one takes the trouble to fatten him, he readily assumes 

 the office of scavenger in general, and performs that role 

 admirably. No one has yet, so far as we are aware, 

 adopted the pig as a drawing-room pet ; and yet, if tended 

 with the same care bestowed upon the lap-dog, there is no 

 reason why he should not shine in that capacity. His tail is 

 fully as curly as that of the pug, his skin may compare not 

 unfavourably with that of the shaved poodle, while in point 

 of sprightliness he is, at any rate in his younger days, superior 

 to the bulldog. He would not run up curtains like a kitten, 

 nor knock down valuable ornaments from the chimney- 

 piece ; while he might, doubtless, be trained with very little 



w. L.VII. 6 



