88 A COUNTRY READER. 



This is probably the explanation of the 

 different methods of feeding of the dog and pig, 

 and the tiger and cat. 



Reason for a Long and Powerful Snout. 



It was a necessity for a wild pig that he should 

 possess not only a very powerful, sensitive snout, 

 but also that he should possess a very keen smell, 

 in order that before he began to dig it should 

 tell him of the whereabouts of the roots upon 

 which to feed. 



The modern pig, therefore, inherits from his 

 wild ancestors a very powerful snout. So power- 

 ful is it that unless you put a ring through 

 his nose, if there be one brick of the flooring 

 loose, in a single night every brick of the sty 

 will probably be upheaved, and a sight of the 

 utmost confusion await you. 



Not only is the pig's snout very powerful, but 

 it is very delicate, so delicate that if there be the 

 least crevice between two loose bricks, up they 

 come, and the work of havoc begins. 



A pig's smell for underground roots is so strong 

 that pigs have been trained to hunt for truffles. 

 The truffle is related to the mushroom, and is 

 considered a great delicacy to eat. It is about 

 the size of a plum, or small potato, and grows 

 about one foot beneath the ground, and generally 

 at the roots of certain trees. 



