The Razorback 



Raymond W. Bell 

 Brasher Falls, X. Y. 



Much may be said concerning any one of the variety of pigs 

 that are known to us, but in this case I will endeavor to tell 

 about the razorback as found in some parts of Florida. People, 

 there, I am told, pay about as much attention to their pork as 

 the Westerner does to his beef. They keep their pigs marked 

 as well as possible and let them run loose among the pines and 

 underbrush in the vicinity to obtain food and live as well as they 

 can. 



During the daytime these lean hungry-looking animals rove 

 about, crawl through fences and arouse the owners of fruit groves 

 and sweet potato patches to a burst of anger, seldom heard of 

 when things are happening to suit them. If something good is 

 found to eat, other pigs ma} 1 be drawn to the spot by the contented 

 grunt of their fellow. Nights are spent in some dark place where 

 there is plenty of material to be found to make a soft bed. I 

 have walked back and forth on the steps of a postoffice in middle 

 Florida, that was situated near the railroad station, while a 

 pig protested against the unusual noise overhead by emitting 

 numerous grunts of annoyance. 



The home of this species of the pig family is anywhere within a 

 radius of half a mile or more from the residence of the owner. 

 No doubt each pig spends the night in any favorable place near 

 where it is roaming when darkness arrives. 



The name "razorback" is a description in itself of the general 

 shape of the body of these animals. Indeed most of them are 

 so long and lean that one may see the backbone outlined under- 

 neath the thick skin. The legs are long and fitted for running. 

 The large two-hoofed toes enable the creature to walk or run 

 easily over dry ground, and the two hind legs, smaller but longer, 

 help to sustain it in marshy soil. 



The most noticeable thing about one of these pigs, as a person 

 sees it loping away, are the large flopping ears, placed well up on 

 the head. In appearance the eyes are small, very bright and more 

 intelligent than those of many of our wild or domesticated animals. 

 When we try to think of an animal that has a highly developed 

 sense of smell we think first of the cat. But the pig has just as 



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