PACHYDERM ATA. 151 



which is a dark grizzled brown, by the longer limbs, the small, 

 erect ears, the greater development of the snout, and by a more 

 bony appearance. 



In his native retreats, the Wild Boar is a truly formidable ani- 

 mal, and the hunt of it exciting and dangerous ; for this fierce 

 and powerful animal is armed with long, curved and sharp tusks, 

 capable of inflicting severe and fatal wounds. After he has 

 passed his fifth year, he becomes less dangerous, on account of 

 the increased size of his tusks, which so turn up as often to hin- 

 der rather than assist his design of wounding with them. In the 

 wooded regions of Europe, the. chase of the Wild Boar is still 

 continued, and it is also one of the most exciting sports of orien- 

 tal countries. It is not now found in its natural state in Great 

 Britain, but formerly it there rioted in the dense forests; and in 

 so high estimation was the chase of the animal held, that by a 

 forest law of William, the Conqueror, any who were found guilty 

 of killing a Wild Boar had their eyes put out ! The lair is gen- 

 erally in some wild, retired spot, not far from water, and com- 

 manding, by some devious path, an entrance to the open country. 

 The young, or Marcassins, as they are termed by the French 

 are striped with longitudinal bands. 



The Domestic Hog, (Sus scrofa,) differs from the wild animal 

 principally in having smaller tusks and ears larger, somewhat 

 pendant, and of a more pointed form. It is known that it varies 

 considerably in color as well as in size, but the prevailing cast is 

 a dull yellowish white, marked or spotted irregularly with black ; 

 sometimes it is perfectly plain or unspotted, sometimes rufous, and 

 sometimes totally black. 



The Hog is, of all quadrupeds, the most gross in his manners, 

 and is generally esteemed the very image of impurity. The 

 Jews were forbidden to eat his flesh, probably from the tendency 

 to cutaneous disease growing out of its use in the East ; and the 

 Mahometans follow the same prohibition. Late experiments 

 with this animal, as kept for domestic uses, go to show that some 

 injustice has been done and losses incurred, by the opinions 

 which have been long entertained as to its proclivity for dirt and 

 mud. If fairly treated, it is by no means a dirty animal, and 

 most judicious farmers find their account in reforming the pens 

 of hogs so that they be kept in a cleanly condition, instead of be- 

 ing saturated with filth. However fond of wallowing in the mire, 

 yet, " with plenty of dry litter, space and water, the hog will 

 keep himself scrupulously clean and will thrive all the better. 

 Even the trouble of washing and currying him frequently will 

 be well repaid. Wood's Natural History contains an imputa- 



