THE DOMESTIC HOG. 257 



is very fand <jf the water, it does not attempt to swim, but contents it- 

 self with walking on the bed of the stream. Although a sufficiently 

 common animal in its native country, it is but seldom seen, owing to 

 its extremely shy habits, and its custom of concealing itself in the 

 thickest underwood. 



The hide of the Tapir is employed by the natives for several useful 

 purposes, but the flesh is dry, tasteless, and not worth the trouble of 

 cooking. The term " Kuda-Ayer " is a Malayan word, signifying 

 "river-horse," and the animal is also known by the name of Tennu. 



In the Swine, the snout is far less elephantine than in the preceding 

 animals, and, though capable of considerable mobility, cannot be curled 

 round any object so as to raise it from the ground. Nor, indeed, is 

 such a power needed, as the Swine employ the snout for the purpose 

 of rooting in the earth, and of distinguishing, by its tactile powers 

 and the delicate sense of smell which is possessed by these animals, 

 those substances which are suitable for food. 



There are many species as well as varieties of Swine, which are 

 found in different parts of the earth, the first and most familiar of 

 which is the Domestic Hog of Europe. 



This species is spread over the greater portion of the habitable globe, 

 and was in former days common in a wild state even in England, from 

 whence it has only been ex- 

 pelled within a comparatively 

 late period. The chase of the 

 wild boar was a favorite amuse- 

 ment of the upper classes, and 

 the animal was one of tho33 

 which were protected by the 

 terribly severe forest laws 

 which were then in vogue. 



At the present time the wild 



Swine have ceased from out of 



England, in spite of several ,,, t> ,0, r \ 



*= ' i Ihe Boar [Sus scrofo). 



eiiorts that have been made to 



restore the breed by importing specimens from the Continent and turn- 

 ing them into the forests. There are, however, traces of the old wild 

 boars still to be found in the forest pigs of Hampshire, with their high 

 crests, broad shoulders, and thick bristling manes. These animals are 

 very active, and are much fiercer than the ordinary Swine. 



In this country the Hog is used not only for food, but for the sake 

 of the hide, which, when prepared after a peculiar fashion, is found to 

 niake the best leather for saddles. The bristles which are so largely 

 used in the manufacture of brushes are almost exclusively imported 

 from the Continent. 



22- R 



