In order t<> enable this instrument t.> |*-rfonii it- functions mop- effectually, it is furnished 

 with a small bone, as is t lie OMB with the mole. Their form is heavy ami massive, ih.-n neck 

 and fore-quarters an- \.-ry strong, and th.-ir heads are wi-dp>-shaped, probably because in a 

 wiM >lat.- they inhabit d.-n-e bushes aii<l thickets, an<l require this form of head :m.l -limit to 

 enable them t<> pierce the tangled vegetal IMII with ease. A wild l>oar will change fearlessly at 

 an apparently im]n-netrable tlii.-k.-t. and \aiiish into its interior as if by magic. The tusks, 

 e-.|..-.-ia!l\ in the mal.-. are largely developed, and are terrible \veajKins of . .1!'. m---. :> I-. -ar I in.' 

 iiM.- t> rip n ji a dog or a man's leg with a single blow of his tusU-. \\'|i.-n striking with these 

 weapons, the boar does not seem to make any ^n-at exertion of strength, but gives a kind of 

 wriggle with his .snout as he passes his victim. In India, it is not uncommon for an infuriate 

 wild boar to pursue some unfortunate native, to overtake him as he flies, anil putting his snout 

 bet \\eeii the poor man' s legs, to cut right and left with an almost im|>-rceptible effort, and to 

 pass on his course, leaving the wounded man helpless on the ground. 



There are many species as well as varieties of Swine, which aiv found in different parts of 

 the earth, the first and most familiar of which is the DOMESTIC Hoo. 



This sjx?cies is spread over the greater portion of the habitable glol>e, and was in former 

 days common in a wild state. The chase of the wild boar was a favorite amiis.Mn.-iit of the 

 upper classes, and the animal was one of those which were protected by tin- terribly .severe 

 forest laws which were then in vogue. The l*ar\\as usually slain with tin- s|-ar. although 

 the net or the arrow were sometimes employed in his destruction. In several continental 

 countries the boar-hunt is still carried on, and by some more legitimate sportsmen is attacked 

 solely \vith the spear. The chase is then a most exciting one, for the lioar is a terrible antago- 

 ni-t. his char-re is mad.- with lightning swiftness, and together with his furious eyes and lips 

 dripping with the foam, he is a sufficiently formidable foe to disconc.-rt any on.- who is not 

 possessed of good n.-nes ami a st.-aily hand. The animal has an awkward habit of swerving 

 suddenly from his course, snapping at the spear-head and breaking it from the shaft. He 

 a l-o. when tin- hunter is on horseback, will charge at the horse instead of the rider, and rising 

 on his hind legs, in order to give the blow greater force, will lay'ojx-n the horse's Hank and 

 instantly disable it. There are, however, but few sportsmen of the present day who will 

 restrict themselves to the use of the spear in boar-hunting lut employ the rifle in lieu of that 

 weapon, so that the danger and excitement of the sj>ort are almost entirely destroyed. 



Swine are very accommodating in their apatite, and will devour almost any vegetable or 

 animal substance. Although more of a vegetable than an animal feeder, the Hog, whether wild 

 or domesticated, will pick up any dead animal it may lind. and will sometimes kill meat for 

 itself. Aa a specimen of the carnivorous powers of the Swine, Buffqn mentions that in the 

 stomach of a wild boar opened by himself, he found part of the skin of a roebuck, and some 

 feet of birds. Certain pig-keepers take a base advantage of the omnivorous qualities of the 

 Hog, and instead of feeding their animals with such a vegetable diet as will produce a firm and 

 sound flesh, maintain them on the worst kind of garbage, which they obtain at a cheap rate 

 from slaughter-houses, and even force them to eat the offal of their own species. The flesh of 

 such ill-fed animals is always flabby and of ill-savor, and is also injurious to those by whom it 

 is consumed. 



In this country, the Hog is used not only for food, but for the sake of the hide, which, 

 when prepared after a peculiar fashion, is found to make the best leather for saddles. The 

 bristles are largely used in the manufacture of brushes. 



Both to the Jews and the Mahometans the Hog is a forbidden article of diet, the latt. i 

 prohibition being evidently in imitation of the former. In the Mosaical law the Hog is spoken 

 of as an unclean animal that might not be eaten, although for what reason is not easy to ascer- 

 tain, and the Rabbinical mandates which exercised such a potent sway over the people laid 

 such a stress upon the interdict that they declared the animal itself to be a vile and foul beast, 

 and pronounced a sentence of nncl.-anness against those who came in contact with a Hog or 

 with anything which it had touched. It must be remarked, that the Egyptians, among whom 

 the Hebrews had so long resided, held similar views of the Hog, and that might be in defer- 

 ence to their prejudices which they had contracted from their former masters. The Hebrew* 



