33 THE HOG. 



to receive amusement from my brother and I running set matches 

 with our steeds, which were determined in the usual manner, with 

 whip and spur ; and in this latter management there was no such 

 thing as bolting or tumbling going on, which occurred frequently 

 dnring the training season. This system however, came at length 

 to my father's ears, for one or two of the racers happening to die in 

 consequence of too severe heats, or too much weight : when we were 

 immediately disbanded from our office, and (our holidays being ex- 

 pired) ordered off to school again, which we set about with as much 

 reluctance as we did the first morning in driving the hundred swine 

 to the clover-field." (Henderson's Practical Grazier.} 



The learned pig is another illustration of this same quality. This 

 creature had been taught to pick up letters, written upon pieces of 

 card, at command, and arrange them into words. It was first 

 exhibited in the vicinity of Pall-Mall, in 1789, at 5s. each person. 

 The price of admission was afterwards reduced to 2s. 60?., and 

 finally to 1*. 



The showman stated that he had lost three hogs in the course of 

 training. Since then there have been many successors of the " learned 

 pig" exhibited at different places, but none equal in talent to the 

 original. 



The next thing which we shall claim for our porcine clients is 

 sagacity ; nor are we here in want of illustrative evidences of their 

 possession of it. Bufc in general there is nothing in the life of a hog, 

 in his domesticated state at least, which calls for any exercise of 

 reasoning powers. His sole business is to eat, drink, sleep, and get 

 fat ; all his wants are anticipated, and his world is limited to the 

 precincts of his sty or of the farm-yard. Yet even in this state of 

 luxurious ease, individuals have shown extraordinary intelligence. 



Mr. Craven, relates the following anecdote of an American sow : 

 "This animal passed her days in the woods, with a numerous 

 litter of pigs, but returning regularly to the house in the evening, 

 to share with her family a substantial supper. One of her pigs was, 

 however, quietly slipt away to be roasted ; in a day or two after- 

 wards another ; and then a third. It would appear that this careful 

 mother knew the number of her offspring, and missed those that 

 were taken from her, for after this she came alone to her evening 

 meal. This occurring repeatedly, she was watched out of the wood, 

 and observed to drive back her pigs from its extremity, grunting, 

 with much earnestness, in a manner so intelligible, that they retired 

 at her command, and waited patiently for her return. 



Surely this must be the result of something very like reasoning 

 powers? "A gentleman residing at Caversham bought two pigs 

 at Reading market, which were conveyed to his house in a sack, and 

 turned into his yard, which lies on the banks of the river Thames. 



"The next morning the pigs were missing. A hue and cry was 



