DOMESTIC HOa.] 



PIGS, 



[domestic hog. 



The genus Siis, as at present constituted, 

 contains, besides the common wild hog and 

 its domestic relatives, two other species known 

 to naturalists. Of these, one is the Papuan 

 hog, or Bene of the natives of New Gruinea 

 (Sus Papuensis), figured and described in the 

 Zoologie de la Coquille, by MM. Lesson and 

 Garnet. Ifc is remarkable for its small size, 

 its light and agreeable proportions, and the 

 shortness of the tusks. It is common in 

 the forests of New Guinea, whei'e it is 

 esteemed by the native Papuans as delicate 

 food, and who contrive to catch these animals 

 when young, and rear them in a state of 

 domestication. The other animal is the Wood- 

 swine of Sontliern and Eastern Africa, and of 

 Madagascar — the Bosch- Vark of the Dutch 

 colonists of the Cape (Sus larva tics, Cuv.). 

 This savage and formidable brute resembles 

 the wild boar of Europe ; but its head is larger 

 in proportion, its snout broader, and an ele- 

 vated callous protuberance is seated on the 

 cheeks between the tusks and eyes, imparting 

 a revolting aspect to the physiognomy. Prompt 

 and vicious, the Bosch-Vark is much to be 

 dreaded in combat, its strength and the size of 

 its tusks rendering it a match for almost any 

 foe. It dwells in excavations in the ground, 

 where it is dangerous to attack it, as it sud- 

 denly rushes out from its retreat, and deals 



rapid destruction among its assailants. Dr. 

 Smith observes that this species is subject to 

 great variety of colouring, scarcely any two 

 specimens being precisely alike. Some are of 

 a brownish black, variegated with white ; and 

 others are of an almost uniform light reddish 

 brown, or rufous without white markings ; 

 and it is scarcely possible to say which is the 

 most prevailing style of colouring. The bristles 

 are long, particularly upon the upper parts of 

 the neck and back ; the canines are of huge 

 size and strength; the ears are short, and 

 thinly covered, both without and within, with 

 coarse black hair, which is longest at their tips. 

 The tail is thinly covered with black bristles. 

 Average length of body, between four and five 

 feet ; of the tail, one foot. 



The discovery of the bones of an extinct 

 hog, of huge size, in the cavern of Sund- 

 wick in Westphalia, is due to M. Goldfuss. 

 Bones of three distinct species occur in the 

 Epplesheim sand (Miocene division of tertiary 

 deposits, Lyell) ; and fossil relics of a species 

 have been found in Hutton Cave, in Mendip, 

 and in other places. Several species of an 

 extinct genus (Chseropotamus), closely allied to 

 the hog, have been discovei-ed in the gypsum 

 of Montmartre, in certain strata in Switzerland, 

 and in the Eocene formation of the Isle of 

 Wight. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE DOMESTIC HOG, AND FOKEIGX VARIETIES. 



TriE domestic hog is too well known to 

 require particular description, and its utility 

 too well appreciated to call for comment. It 

 is not, however, valued alike in all countries; 

 and in some it is regarded with abhorrence. 

 In India, both Brahmin and Mussulman reject 

 its flesh as food ; yet, in many districts of that 

 country, semi-domesticated hogs wander about 

 the villages, feeding on the refuse which they 

 pick up in the streets. Colonel Sykes states, 

 that in Dukhun, "every village abounds with 

 758 



hogs ; but any property in them is equally 

 abjured by individuals and the community." 

 Detestation of the hog was a feeling enter- 

 tained by certain nations in remote antiquity. 

 Tlie animal was classed by the Jews among 

 the vilest of quadrupeds; and in Egypt the 

 swineherd was numbei'ed among the profane, 

 and forbidden to enter the temples of their 

 gods. Even the lowest dregs of the people 

 refused to bestow their daughter on him in 

 marriage. The Egyptians sacrificed the hog 



