CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 11. P ACH YDERM AT A. 645 



small, and the ears of moderate size, and upright. The form of the hody resembles that of our 

 ordinary swine, but is lighter and less bulky in the wild species. The tail is rather short and 

 slender ; in most cases it is capable of being twisted up into a sort of curl upon the rump. The 

 skin is covered with bristles. Unlike the Fachydermata of the preceding families, which only 

 produce one or at the utmost two young at a birth, the swine are very prolific, bringing forth 

 frequently from eight to twelve young ones. The species are found in the warmer parts of both 

 continents, only one, the common hog, being found wild in the temperate parts of the Old World. 

 They live in the woods and forests, generally in marshy places, and feed partly upon roots and 

 herbage and partly upon animal substances, such as insects and their larva?, small mammalia, and 

 even upon carrion. The females and young males live together in flocks, but the old boars are 

 usually solitary, except during the breeding season, which they pass in company with the females; 

 and at this period they have tremendous combats among themselves. 



Genus SUS : Sus. — Of this there are several species : the most important is that of the Wild 

 Boar, Sunglier of the French, Sus scrofa of Linnaeus, of which all the breeds of Domestic Hogs 

 are varieties. This is indigenous to Europe, Asia, and Africa, and though much less abundant 

 than formerly, is still found in the wild and wooded districts of these quarters of the globe. They 

 are of a blackish-brown color, the young, called marcassins by the French, being faintly marked 

 with cross-stripes. The bristles along the spine are very coarse, and are erected when the 

 animals are excited, giving them a fierce appearance. All their senses are exceedingly acute. 

 They live in the deep forests, and feed on roots, fruits, herbs, and nuts of various kinds. They 

 pair in January and February, the boars at this period having terrific battles with each other. 

 When all the hostile encounters and other preliminaries are settled, each pair betake themselves 

 to the deep cover of a thicket, where they remain about thirty days. The period of gestation 

 is four months, and the litter consists of from four to ten pigs. When they are produced, 

 the female hides them very carefully from the male, as he would otherwise eat them up. In- 

 deed, when the season is severe, and provision is not easily obtained, the female does not scruple 

 to eat her own offspring. This sometimes happens in the case of the domestic sow, and Shak- 

 speare mentions, among the fitting subjects that go to the composition of a diabolical mess, 



" Sow that hath her farrow eaten." 



The hunting of the wild boar was formerly the chosen amusement of the higher gentry of Eu- 

 rope. The power and fierceness of the animal rendered the chase hazardous, and this constituted 

 a fitting relish to the sport of a rude age. Nobles, princes, and even kings heretofore delighted 

 to take the field with the boar-spear and peril their persons in hunting this fierce animal. Nor 

 was the hunt the only object, for the flesh is excellent, even superior to that of the domestic ani- 

 mal. As history informs us, the huntsmen who pursued the wild boar had keen appetites for the 

 game. At the present day a boar-hunt is rare, though the animal exists in the marshes of Italy, 

 and even in parts of France, Spain, Germany, and Greece. 



The Domestic Hog, now distinguished by many varieties, is spread over nearly the whole 

 civilized world. In this country it is everywhere cultivated, and especially in the AVestern States. 

 Cincinnati* is the center of the pork market of that region; the number killed there annually 

 amounts to several millions. They roam in the woods, feeding on herbage and wild fruits and 

 nuts, till late in the autumn, when they are taken up and fatted on Indian corn. The breeds in use 

 are the Leicester, the Miami White, the Yorkshire White, and the Kenilicorth, all large kinds, 

 attaining a weight of six hundred to eight hundred pounds when dressed. The Cl>iu<si- or Siam 

 Hog, which Gervais considers a distinct species, is a small variety, but it is a great breeder, and 

 has been useful in improving other breeds by crossing. The Berkshire is an ancient English 

 breed, of a buff color, with large black spots and black feet ; it is justly a favorite. The Bed/or,/ 

 is also much esteemed, and is extensively cultivated. 



* According to the census of 1850, the number of hogs in the United States was about 30,000.000; it doubi 

 greatly exceeds that number at the present time. It is said that the product of the swine market of Cincinnati alone, 

 in pork, bacon, lard-oil— now become one of the great staples of the West, being extensively used for machinery of 

 all kinds, as well as for other purposes, candles, soap, bristles, ic. — exceeds ten millions of dollars annually. 



