THE COMMON HOG. 23? 



Description Manners, &c. 



incapable of resistance. He lives, for the chief 

 part, on vegetables, yet can devour the most pur 

 trescent carcases. He is, however, generally 

 supposed much more indelicate than he really is. 

 He selects, at least the plants of his choice, with 

 equal sagacity and niceness, and is never poison- 

 ed, like some other animals, by mistaking nox- 

 ious for wholesome food. Selfish, indocile, and 

 rapacious, as many think him, no animal has 

 greater sympathy for those of his own kind. 

 The moment one of them gives a signal of dis- 

 tress, all within hearing rush to his assistance. 

 They have been known to gather round a dog 

 that teazed them, and kill him on the spot: and 

 if a male and female be inclosed in a sty when 

 young, and be afterward separated, the female 

 will decline from the instant her companion is 

 removed, and will probably die of a broken, 

 Jieart. 



This animal is well adapted to the mode of 

 life to which it is destined. Having to gain a 

 subsistence principally by turning up the earth 

 with its nose; we find that the neck is strong 

 and brawny; the eyes small and placed high in 

 the head; the snout long; the nose tough and 

 callous, and the power of smelling extremely 

 acute. 



In the island of Minorca, hogs are converted 

 into beasts of draught; a cow, a sow, and two 

 young horses, have been there seen yoked toge- 

 ther, and of the four the sow drew the best. 



