BREEDS. 425 



earlier maturity, and with a smaller consumption of food, 

 than when he possesses a different conformation. 



Of the races or breeds of the Hog in different countries, 

 the varieties are innumerable. One that requires especial 

 notice, as having been mixed in blood with the Swine of 

 some parts of Europe, and very largely with those of Eng- 

 land, is the widely-diffused SIAMESE BREED. 



The south-eastern countries of Asia, it is well known, 

 comprehending the territories of the Birmans, the kingdoms 

 of Cambodia, Siam, Cochin-China, Malacca, and others, are 

 covered with forests of magnificent growth, which are filled 

 with numerous animals, amongst which the Hog abounds. 

 In all these countries the Hog has been reduced to domesti- 

 cation, and over all the rich and populous empire of China 

 proper, and the neighbouring islands and countries, it is 

 largely cultivated for human food. The Hogs of these coun- 

 tries present certain characters which may distinguish them 

 from those of Europe, but they have all the habits of our 

 common Swine, and breed as freely with them as the latter 

 do with one another. 



The race supposed to be the most typical of the domesti- 

 cated Hogs of those countries has been termed the Siamese 

 breed, from the kingdom of Siam, situated on the gulf of 

 that name, nearly in the centre of the countries sometimes 

 termed India beyond the Ganges. But the terms the Bir- 

 inan, the Cambodian, the Malacca breed, would be equally 

 applicable ; and, therefore, by the designation Siamese Breed, 

 must be understood not a race proper to Siam, but to a vast 

 extent of country situated in this part of Asia. 



The individuals are of small size, and have a cylindrical 

 body, with the back somewhat hollow, and the belly trailing 

 near the ground, in consequence of the shortness of the limbs. 

 The bristles are soft, approaching to the characters of hair : 

 the colour is usually black, and the skin externally of a rich 

 copper colour. The ears are short, small, and somewhat erect. 

 The animals are less hardy and prolific than the native races 



