SWINE. 



251 



animals live either solitarily or in families in forests and 

 swamps. The canines of the wild boar are developed 

 enormously, being curved forward and upward, and 

 forming tusks that are powerful weapons. All the mem- 

 bers of this family have elongated mobile snouts, which 

 are used in digging in the soil for the roots that consti- 

 tute their food. There are four toes on each foot, only 

 three of which touch the ground in walking. 



FIG. 192. 



IMPROVED YORKSHIRE PIGS. 



The domestic hogs are descendants of the wild boar ; 

 there are a large number of varieties, all developed by 

 careful breeding, some of which become very fat, while 

 others are valued for their lean meat. Among them we 

 may name the Essex, Sussex, Berkshire, Yorkshire, and 

 Victoria varieties ; from these mainly the American 

 hogs are descended. 



