202 THE SWINE. 



In their form, they are low set ; the body nearly 

 cylindrical ; the head placed upon the same line 

 with the trunk. The skin is thick, covered with 

 strong and stiff hair, called bristles, which are 

 in general thinly planted, and have often an 

 under fur of fine curled hair. In many cases, 

 however, this last is wanting, and the skin is 

 distinctly seen among the bristles. They are 

 furnished with a strong mane. The tail is short, and 

 generally twisted ; but in some forms it is entirely 

 wanting. In the males, the canine teeth are greatly 

 developed, prove formidable weapons of offence 

 or defence, and by an enraged animal are made 

 to inflict torn wounds of a most severe kind. 

 Their food is mostly roots and vegetables, and 

 also worms and insects, to procure which they 

 are furnished with an elongated nose, supplied 

 with a strong cartilage at the extremity, and with 

 powerful muscles, which renders this flexible, and 

 enables them to turn up the soft or moist ground 

 in search of roots, or worms and insects, in which 

 they are also assisted by their acute sense of 

 smell. Acorns, beech-mast chestnuts, and the 

 produce of similar fruit-bearing trees, are also a 

 very favourite as well as fattening food ; and the 

 herdsmen of old, and even yet, in some of the 

 English forests, avail themselves of this, and drive 

 their pigs in autumn to feed and fatten themselves 

 in the woodlands of oak and chestnut. When 



