118 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



Nor is the calumniated quadruped without social feelings. 

 He chooses his associates from among the herd ; and when 

 ranging through the woods in his forest migration, it is 

 uniformly observed that he forms, with his companions, 

 little communities, which keep together, and pasture under 

 the same tree : nay more, should it happen that they are 

 again sent forth to lead a wandering life in quest of mast and 

 acorns, the young pigs of one year, having attained full age 

 the next, remember their early associates, and range together 

 as heretofore ; and as they go forth at early dawn, so they 

 return at night with complacent gruntings, as if discussing 

 the adventures of the day. 



Some of our venerable brethren, observant trees, who 

 have looked for ages on the actings of men and animals, 

 incline to the opinion that swine anticipate with pleasure 

 the period of wood-ranging. Certain it is, that they greatly 

 enjoy that pleasant mode of life, wandering about at ease, 

 basking in the sunbeams, or bathing in clear streams, such 

 as a naiad might affect, and conversing " with one another 



