Chapter LXX. 



NEAPOLITANS. 



The Neapolitan, although not bred at present in the United States 

 (unless, perhaps, a few may be found in the vicinity of New York), de- 

 serves a place among the breeds now known in America, from the fact 

 if for no other reason of its having taken so important a part in the 

 foundation of the Essex breed. The Neapolitan is a native of Italy, 

 and is supposed to be descended from eastern stock, brought in by the 

 early Italian voyagers. Youatt (Youatt on " The Pig") says of the Nea- 

 politans that they are "black, or rather brown, with no bristles, and 

 consequently delicate when first introduced into our northern climate." 

 They resemble the modern Essex somewhat, but are almost destitute of 

 hair, and the head and front parts are lighter and more bony. From the 

 report of the National Swine Breeders' Convention, November 20, 1872, 

 we clip the following detailed 



DESCRIPTION OF THE NEAPOLITAN. 



"Head small, forehead bony and flat ; face slightly dishing; snout rather long and 

 very slender ; ears small, thin, standing forward nearly horizontal, and quite lively ; 

 jowl very full ; neck short, broad and heavy above ; trunk long, cylindrical and well- 

 ribbed back ; back flat and ribs arching even in low flesh ; belly horizontal on the lower 

 line ; hind quarters higher than the fore, but not very much so ; legs very fine, the bones 

 and joints being smaller than those of any other breed ; hams and shoulders well devel- 

 oped and meaty ; tail fine, curled, flat at the extremity and fringed with hair on 'each side : 

 general color, slatish or bluish-plum color, with cast of coppery red ; skin soft and fine, 

 nearly free from hair, which, when found upon the sides of the head and behind the fore- 

 legs, is black, soft and rather long ; flesh firm and elastic to the touch." 



They are considered too delicate for American farmers, and will 

 probably never be extensively introduced, unless the breed should un- 

 dergo an almost complete transformation. 



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