PART III 



BREEDS OF SWINE 



LECTURE NO. i. 



SWINE ORIGIN OF THE DOMESTICATED RACES. 



I. Swine (Sus scrofa) have been known to 

 exist in a wild state on the continents of Europe, 

 Asia and Africa ever since the dawn of history. 



(1) With certain variations they are also found wild on 

 the continent of America and the islands of the Pacific, but 



(2) They were not found in a wild condition on the con- 

 tinent of Australia. 



II. Some zoologists have divided the various 

 species of swine into three genera, viz : 



(1) True swine, including the wild hog of Europe, Asia 

 and Africa ; the babirussa of certain East Indian islands ; the 

 Papuan hog of New Guinea, and the wood swine of South 

 Africa. 



(2) The wart bearing hogs of Africa, and 



(3) The peccaries of America. 



III. The various species of swine with certain 

 minor variations possess the following points of 

 resemblance in a greater or less degree : 



(1) The head is prolonged, somewhat cone-shaped, and 

 ends in a movable cartilaginous disc. 



(2) The neck is short, strong and muscular, and the limbs 

 are short and strong. 



(3) The skin is thick and covered more or less with hair 

 and bristles. 



(4) They are fond of plants and more especially of the 

 roots of these. 



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