940 



CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



m. SwineofEiirope, Asia and Africa. 



While it is a fact, as i)reviously stated, that the swine of Europe, Asia 

 and Africa have a conimoii origin, there is no means of knowing how or 

 when they were first introduced. The probability, however, is that they 

 spread si)ontaneously over these countries ; for the original forest cover- 

 nig rendered the means of migration easy to them, since thiclv timber and 

 all the lands along streams furnish their natural feeding grounds. 

 IV. The Wild Hogs of Europe. 



It matters little, practically, how any of the farm animals originated, 

 or how they were naturally disseminated over the earth ; though to 

 savants, of course, the question is curious and interesting. It is worthy 

 of remark, that of all domestic animals used as food by man, the hog is 

 the only one that has preserved his native characteristics unmoditied in a 

 wild state. 



GROUP OV CHESTER WHITES. 



The hunting of wild hogs has formed an exciting chase in ail ages of 

 Lhe world, both on account of their fleetness and their savage courage 

 when brought to bay. In the southern portions of the United States, in 

 sparsely settled districts, swine are found escaped from domestication, and 

 showing all their natural savage traits, including dangerous fiercenesa 

 when brought to bay. Forty years ago the writer hunted wild hogs, — 

 the descendants of Indian breeds, — in the swamps and morasses of north- 

 ern Indiana and the timbered river bottoms of the Calumet. The hai-d 

 winter of 1844, howev(;r, destroyed the last remnant of these wild hogs, 

 they having all died in their lairs, from exposure and want of food. Wild 

 hogs are now rarely found in Europe, and this when preserved in royal 

 forests as in Denmark, Italy and Greece. In France and Germany they 

 have become extremely rare, and in Great. Britain the wild species has 

 long been extinct 



