THE COMMON HOG. 



Figs affected by wind. 



vice to mankind, except in removing that filth. 

 which other animals reject. 



The thickness of his hide and fixt renders the 

 hog almost insensible of ill treatment^ and in- 

 stances have even occurred of mice eating their 

 way into the fat on the back of one of these ani- 

 mals without incommoding the creature. Al- 

 though naturally inoffensive, he possesses powers 

 which, when called into action, render him a very 

 formidable enemy. He is, however, stupid, in- 

 active, and drowsy; and nothing but .the calls of 

 appetite interrupt his repose, to which he always 

 returns as soon as these are satiated. 



Wind seems to have great influence on these 

 Animals, for when it blows violently they appear 

 much agitated, and run towards the sty, some- 

 times screaming in a most violent manner. Na- 

 turalists have also remarked that, on the approach 

 of bad weather, they will bring straw to the. sty, 

 as if to guard against its effects. The peasants 

 in some parts of the country have a singular 

 adage that " pigs can see wind." 



Those who are^at all acquainted with the man- 

 ners of the hog, must have observed that they 

 are extremely tenacious of life. A most curious 

 instance of this sort is related in Josselyn's Ac- 

 count of Two Voyages to New England. I shall 

 extract the passage, and leave the reader to judge 

 of its authenticity. " Being at a friend's house 

 in Cambridgeshire, the cook-maid, making ready 

 to slaughter a pig, she put the hinder parts b-* 



VOL. II. NO. XIII. 1 H 



