14 HAERIS ON THE PIG. 



food, merely explains why he can grow so rapidly, but it 

 throws no light on the fact that he can gain more rapidly, 

 in proportion to the food consumed, than any other do- 

 mestic animal. The real explanation of this fact is the 

 one given above. He can eat more, digest more, and as- 

 similate more, over and above the amount of food neces- 

 sary to sustain life. 



CHAPTER II. 



BREEDS OF PIGS. 



Like all other animals, pigs adapt themselves to the cir- 

 cumstances in which they are placed. Where the supply 

 of food is scanty and uncertain, they grow slowly, and 

 are long in coming to maturity. Where they have to 

 travel far in search of their food, they have legs adapted 

 for the purpose ; and if they are obliged to seek their 

 food under ground, their snouts soon become long and 

 powerful. Where they are liable to molestation or attack, 

 they soon acquire a ferocious disposition and the means 

 for defence. On the other hand, where they have a liberal 

 and constant supply of food, where they are provided 

 with warm and comfortable quarters, and are never harshly 

 treated, they become gentle in disposition, are indisposed 

 to roam about, have finer hair and skin, shorter and finer 

 legs, smaller head, ears and snout. They grow rapidly 

 and mature early. 



Such a change does not take place at once ; and the 

 same may be said of the conditions. A rude system of 

 agriculture is never immediately followed by high farm- 

 ing. There must be intermediate changes. And so it is 

 with our domestic animals. We have almost as many 

 kinds of hogs as we have different kinds or systems of 

 farming. We do not call them breeds, because there is 



