152 PACHYDERMATA. 



lion against the Hog, which we do not remember to have seen or 

 heard of before. "I have," says he, "seen pigs suck the cows 

 in a farm yard, while they were lying down and chewing the 

 cud, nor did the cows attempt to repel them." 



The Hog is remarkably prolific, bringing forth two litters in 

 the year, of from eight to twelve, and sometimes fifteen or twenty 

 each. It is plain, therefore, that they would soon become annoy - 

 ingly numerous were they not diminished by being used for the 

 support of man. Though perfectly useless during life, they are 

 among the most important of the animals which are reared for 

 the value of their flesh as human food. None convert a given 

 quantity of corn or other nutriment so soon into fat, or can be 

 made fat on so great a variety of food. "Their flesh," says 

 Linneeus, " is wholesome food for persons of athletic constitu- 

 tions, or those who habituate themselves to much exercise, but 

 improper for such as lead sedentary lives." It is an article of 

 great importance to us as a naval and commercial nation, as it 

 takes salt better than any other kind of flesh, and hence can be 

 longer preserved. " The largest animals are not the best. 

 Fertility, a capacity of fattening with rapidity and with the least 

 expense, the smallness of the bones, and the firmness and sweet- 

 ness of the flesh, with its readiness to receive salt, are objects 

 of higher importance than mere bulk." The introduction of 

 the Chinese Hog, it is said, has in some places made great 

 changes in the native breeds. This breed is remarkable for 

 productiveness. Cuvier believed it to be specifically differ- 

 ent from the wild Boar. It is of "small size, short and thick; 

 the belly deep, and when fat nearly reaching the ground ; 

 the legs short and fine; the head very short; the neck thick." 

 The pork of the Chinese animal is particularly delicate; but 

 the common breeds are said to "yield the best bacon and 

 hams." 



The senses of the Hog are acute, especially that of smelling. 

 The broad snout ploughs up the herbage, and not a root, an in- 

 sect or a worm, escapes the olfactory sense. The animal is not 

 stupid as compared with many quadrupeds, and when treated 

 with kindness, sometimes evinces strong attachment. That it is 

 docile is proved by the number of "learned pigs," and by "the 

 famous sporting sow that went regularly out with the gun, and 

 stood her game as staunch as any pointer," 



& Bdbirussa, (native word, Hog deer.) The BABYROUSSA. 



This animal is nearly the size of a common hog, but differs 

 from it in some marked respects. The form is longer and light- 



