306 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [14:7— Oct., 1918 



good smellers as any cat, for it is said by one trustworthy author 

 to be able to distinguish chaff from grain and to follow a track 

 almost as well as a dog. The nose or snout is a fleshy disk wthi 

 nostrils in it, and it is a most sensitive organ of feeling. This 

 organ is used for rooting up food from the ground and if the farmer 

 wishes to stop the pigs from doing this, he puts rings in their 

 noses. The "razorback" has a very long nose, strong and especi- 

 ally adapted for food getting. 



A strange thing about the upper canines is the fact that they 

 curve upwards thus causing the cheeks to protrude. They are 

 used not only in masticating food but as a weapon in time of 

 danger when the enemy gets within biting distance. 



The covering of the pig is a thick skin covered with sparsely 

 scattered hair or bristles. Indeed there are so few that they are 

 of little use as a protection against the cold, flies and pests of 

 different sorts, so the pig looks around for some cool shallow pool 

 or marshy place where it can immerse itself and thus become 

 protected from attack. The bristles are, however, a great pro- 

 tection against scratches, as it wanders through the underbrush. 



It is very seldom that one sees a black pig among the "razor- 

 back" type. Usually they are or would be white in color if it 

 were not for the dirt that has accumulated. There being no 

 other color markings, this rather dirty white renders the pig 

 quite inconspicuous. 



When aroused, the razor back shifts from low to high speed very 

 quickly. If not scared, these movements are heralded by a 

 special kind of a horn, characteristic of- the pig only, and known as 

 a grunt. Some people grunt but the two grunts are easily dis- 

 tinguishable. 



I have never seen the pigs of Florida playing or showing much 

 pleasure, but at home especially when a new bed of shavings or 

 straw is being given them, pleasure is shown among the group 

 by a general frisking about or turning around rapidly and knocking 

 into each other. Indeed it is often worth the trouble to give 

 them extra bedding just to see them perform in this manner. 

 Pleasure is also shown by emitting a satisfied grunt. When out 

 of sight of a group of pigs but within hearing distance, it is easy 

 to tell the pig's mood and the condition in which he is by the tone 

 of voice. 



