SWINE IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS. 73 



evidently descended from the wild long-legged, flat-sided race; but 

 judicious crosses with the Hampshire and Berkshire breeds, have 

 now made it a well-shaped, profitable animal. The Guernsey pigs 

 of the present day fatten readily and cheaply, and often attain to an 

 enormous size. One was killed not long since weighing 640 pounds, 

 offal not included. The pig here forms part of the establishment of 

 every cottager, and is kept a close prisoner in his sty, where he is 

 well supplied with buttermilk, bran, potatoes, cabbages, and all kinds 

 of vegetables during the spring and summer, and fed almost exclu- 

 sively on parsnips from September. They are generally killed at 

 about twenty months old, and weigh then from 300 to 400 or 450 

 pounds. Pork forms the staple food of the Guernsey farmers and 

 cottagers. The author has here to acknowledge his obligation to 

 Colonel Lake, of Woodlands, Guernsey, for the information so kindly 

 contributed by him. 



SARK. The swine here are very similar to those of Guernsey ; if 

 there is any difference, it is that they are somewhat larger. They 

 are managed in a similar manner, fatten wel], and are profitable 

 animals. . 



ALDERNEY. Here, too, the original large breed have been improv- 

 ed by judicious crosses. The fat hogs reach an enormous size, 

 sometimes even outweighing a tolerably fed cow ; but 500 pounds 

 is no uncommon weight. 



THE ISLE OF MAN. Here the original breed of swine are small, 

 wild, apt to fatten, and that without much care or attention, and 

 yielding excellent meat. Crosses have been introduced, which per- 

 haps have better adapted the animals to the system of sty-feeding ; 

 but we question whether they can be said to be improved by having 

 been rendered more dependent upon the care of man. 



The HEBRIDES, or WESTERN ISLES. The most common breeds 

 of these islands are generally considered to be aboriginal, and line- 

 ally descended from the wild boar. These swine are described as 

 being very small, active, and shaggy, of a grayish or dirty yellow 

 color, grazing wild upon the hills like sheep, their sole food herbage 

 and roots, and receiving no other sustenance or shelter all the year 

 round but what is furnished them by nature, yet being in good con- 

 dition, and affording excellent meat. When artificially fed, and care- 

 fully sheltered and tended, they will attain to a verv considerable 

 bulk, without any deterioration of the quality and flavor of their 

 flesh. 



The SHETLAND ISLANDS. The breed of swine here, very much re- 

 semble those we have just been describing. They are small, of a 

 dirty white or yellowish brown color, remarkably strong in the 

 snout, with sharp-pointed ears, and arched back, from which rises a 

 forest of stiff brustles When poor, the flesh of these animals is 

 coarse ; but those w}>veh are properly fattened yield sweet and deli- 

 4 



