42 THE PIG. 



certainly be one of the last that he would select for his 

 table. 



Under this unpromising exterior, however, nature has 

 concealed one of the most valuable articles of food. The 

 flesh of this animal is of general use, and of great impor- 

 tance to this country as a commercial nation. Linnreus 

 says, that it is a wholesome food for those who use much 

 exercise, but pernicious to such as lead a sedentary life. 

 The domestic sow brings forth twice a year, from ten to 

 twenty at each time, the period of gestation being some- 

 thing more than four months. She is an unnatural mother, 

 and will, if not carefully watched, frequently devour her 

 own offspring. After a few days, however, she seems to 

 imbibe a small degree of maternal tenderness. The boar 

 is equally or still more the enemy of the young, and if not 

 prevented will immediately destroy the whole litter. 



As the hog is one of the most prolific animals in creation, 

 it is also one of those most extensively diffused. It is found 

 in every latitude except within the frigid zone, and thrives 

 in every temperate climate ; and it appears somewhat sin- 

 gular, that it is disseminated throughout most of the seques- 

 tered islands in the Pacific Ocean, although it did not exist 

 in America until transplanted here by the Spaniards. In 

 many parts of this continent, the hogs have now so ex- 

 ceedingly multiplied that they run wild in the woods ; but 

 how, or where they were first introduced into the islands 

 of the South Sea will probably ever remain a matter of 

 conjecture. 



The learned pigs which have frequently been exhibited 

 might suffice to prove that these animals are not destitute 

 of sagacity ; but the following instance, related by the Rev. 



