3o6 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



her sows when they were engaged in eating. They stopped eating, looked 

 at each other a moment and forthwith began fighting, each evidently 

 attributing the lady's remark to the other, and obviously it was of an 

 uncomplimentary character. 



The pig's ability to take on fat was evidently a provision, in the wild 

 state, for storing up fat from mast that should help sustain the animal 

 during the hardships of winter; and this character is what makes swine 

 useful for our own food. Pigs, to do best, should be allowed to have 

 pasture and plenty of fresh green food. Their troughs should be kept 

 clean and they should have access to ashes, and above all, they should 

 have plenty of pure water; and as the pig does not perspire freely, access 

 to water where it can take its natural mud-baths helps to keep the body 

 cool and the pig healthy in hot weather. 



The breeds of hogs most common in America are the Berkshires, which 

 are black with white markings, and have ears extending erect; the 

 Poland Chinas, which are black and white with drooping ears; the Duroc- 

 Jersey, which are red or chestnut with drooping ears; the Yorkshire and 

 Cheshire, which are white with erect ears, while the Cheshire White is 

 white with drooping ears. The Poland China and Duroc-Jersey are both 

 pure American breeds. 



References — Elementary Agriculture, AVarren; Our Domestic Animals, 

 Burkett; The Country Reader, Buchanan; Lives of Animals, Ingersoll; 

 Types and Breeds of Farm Animals, Plumb; and the bulletins of the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture. 



LESSON LXIX 



The Pig 



Leading tlwuglit — The pig is something more than a source of pork. 



It is a sagacious animal and naturally cleanly in its habits when not made 



prisoner by man. 



Method — The questions in this lesson may be given to the pupils a few 



at a time, and those who have access to farms or other places where pigs 



are kept may make 

 the observations and 

 in giving them to the 

 class they should be 

 discussed. Supple- 

 mentary reading 

 should be given the 

 pupils, which may in- 

 form them as to the 

 habits and peculiari- 

 ties of the wild hogs. 

 Theodore Roosevelt's 

 experience in hunting 

 the wart-hog in Africa 

 will prove interesting 

 reading. 



Observations — i. 

 How does the pig's 

 nose differ from that 



Bottle-fed babies. 



