544 



THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 



tween these breeds may be, their existence as well 

 as the origin and dying out of forms bred under the 

 influence of Man are explained by independent or 

 compelled selection in breeding and also by the 

 variable conditions of climate, food, etc., surround- 

 ing domestic Hogs. All the popular and admired 

 breeds of modern times are only artificial products 

 of .Man: the sturdy Berkshire, the fat Harrisson, and 

 the compactly built Runt Hog. The Masked Hog 

 is also an artificial production and owes its existence 

 to the caprice of Japanese breeders. We leave it to 

 others to describe that, as well as all other breeds, 

 and will only cast a cursory glance at the habits and 

 qualities of the domestic Hog in general. 

 Distribution of The domestic Hog is at present dis- 

 the Domes- tributed all over the globe. As far 

 tic Hog. north as agriculture is pursued it 



lives in a state of domesticity; in the southern coun- 

 tries it is kept in herds more or less remote from 

 human companionship. As swampy countries con- 

 stitute its natural and preferred range it undergoes 



MASKED HOGS. A curious variety of the domestic Swine is the Masked Hogs, to 



which breed the animals shown in the picture belong. This species has its home in Japan, 

 and its notable features are the deep furrows in its face, and the large pendulous ears. 

 (Sus flicifleps. ) 



certain modifications as a consequence of enforced 

 life among mountains. The higher it ascends the 

 more it assumes the character of a mountain animal. 

 The body becomes smaller and sturdier, the head 

 shorter and less pointed, the forehead broader; the 

 neck shortens and augments in thickness, the hinder 

 quarters are more rounded and the legs become 

 stronger. Mountain Hogs accumulate little fat, but 

 have tenderer and finer grained flesh and are less 

 prolific than those living in the valleys. The cli- 

 mate, the conditions of the soil and breeding and 

 crossing also exercise a certain influence on the 

 color and so it happens that in some countries one 

 hue prevails, in others different ones. Thus the 

 Hogs in Spain are almost exclusively black, while 

 individuals of that color are very rare in the north. 

 Method of Life Swine are kept and fattened either 

 of Domestic in stables or folds, or are kept out- 

 Hoga. doors for a great part of the year. 



The animals which are penned in become larger and 

 fatter, but are weaker and more subject to diseases 



than those which spend the greater part of their 

 lives outdoors; these latter are usually somewhat 

 longer-legged and leaner, but much stronger physic- 

 ally and mentally, and more independent and cour- 

 ageous than the former. This forest breeding, if 

 such I may term it, is followed not only in America, 

 but also in most provinces of Russia, in the Danube 

 valley, in Greece, Italy, southern France and Spain. 

 In Scandinavia the Hogs run at large at least during 

 the whole summer, each having a small triangular 

 wooden collar around its neck, which prevents it 

 from entering fenced-in land, but does not hinder it 

 in the least in other respects. In traveling through 

 Norway one sees Hogs running along the high roads 

 very leisurely and contentedly, seeking all kinds 

 of refuse and procuring other food by vigorous ex- 

 ploration of the ground by rooting. In southern 

 Hungary, Croatia, Slavonia, Bosnia, Servia, Turkey 

 and Spain, they are left to their own devices all the 

 year round, and are cared for only sufficiently to 

 keep them from running away. They appear to 

 appreciate their surroundings in the forest 

 and find very suitable feeding and fattening 

 grounds, especially in the oak woods. In 

 Spain they ascend high up in the moun- 

 tains, in the Sierra Nevada, for instance, 

 as high as 7,500 feet, and seem contented 

 and thrifty in localities in which other ani- 

 mals could not find enough to sustain them. 

 Life in the free state greatly develops all 

 their physical and mental qualities. They 

 are good runners and climbers and are 

 amply able to protect themselves. In some 

 instances, particularly in the colder tem- 

 perate climates, the Hogs are kept in for- 

 ests in summer and in folds in the winter. 

 It has been held, but quite erroneously, 

 that a Hog needs mud and dirt for its 

 physical welfare. Recent investigations 

 have demonstrated that this animal thrives 

 much better when it is kept clean, than 

 when it constantly wallows in the mud; 

 therefore well informed and progressive 

 breeders no longer coop up their Pigs in 

 the abominable prisons, called pig-sties, 

 but give them spacious, airy premises, that 

 can easily be cleaned, and there they rear 

 much healthier and stronger domestic Pigs 

 than they formerly did in the small, dirty 

 sties. The best plan is to have the floor 

 of the swine-fold made of stone slabs. 

 Mental Attribute The domestic Hog is voracious, re- 

 of the Domes- fractory and awkward, and displays 

 tic Hog. little attachment to humanity. There 



are exceptions, however. Domestic Hogs, which 

 from early youth have lived more in contact with 

 the family than by themselves, as not infrequently 

 happens in rural regions, exercise their intellectual 

 powers and prove themselves much more intelligent 

 than others of their kind. A forest guard told me, 

 that he at one time had a little Pig of the so-called 

 Chinese breed in his possession. It followed him 

 like a Dog, knew its name, always came when it was 

 called, went up the stairs with him, behaved quite 

 decently in the house, obeyed orders and performed 

 tricks. It had been taught to look for morels in the 

 woods and performed its duty with great zeal. In 

 France especially are Hogs trained to seek truffles. 

 They also acquire many other accomplishments. 

 When Louis XI was sick, nothing could cheer the 

 melancholy king until a troop of well-trained little 



