STUPIDITY. 121 



obeys his call, follows his lead, shows great affection for its 

 young. The attachments sheep form to each other are 

 characterised by their steadiness or permanence. 



The pig, like the ass, has a native intelligence that may 

 be developed by education to such a degree that there have 

 been 'learned' pigs, just as there are and have been learned 

 dogs pigs able, for instance, to form words from, or with, 

 letters. Where it lives on terms of intimacy with its 

 master, as in Ireland, or among the New Zealand Maoris, 

 when it is treated and trained as a pet or companion, it 

 assumes the position of the dog, becoming thoroughly tame 

 and domesticated, showing its docility, gratitude, affection 

 by following its master as the dog does. Not only has it 

 been taught to spell, but also to point, to find and to retrieve 

 like a dog, and to hunt for truffles (Nichols), and in other 

 ways it has been and may be rendered useful by reason of 

 its trained intelligence to man. 



The injustice of its evil reputation for headstrongness, 

 perverseness or obstinacy, as well as for personal filth, has 

 been pointed out by Gilpin, according to whom, if the 

 animal is not naturally docile, orderly and cleanly, these 

 qualities can at least be developed in it by proper treatment 

 on man's part. It profits by experience to the extent of 

 becoming artful, as well as sagacious (White), while certain 

 authors attribute to it much talent, natural and acquired. 

 So-called f sporting ' pigs are as fond of sport as dogs are, 

 and in the same way solicit to be taken out for the purpose 

 of enjoying it. Other pigs show great affection for their 

 young, conjugal fidelity, and attachment to persons, recog- 

 nising friends and protectors. They defend each other 

 resolutely. Their capacity for education and their tracta- 

 bility lead to their becoming useful to man in many ways, 

 for instance, as beasts of burden. 



Pigs are sometimes anything but stupid. Thus, while so 

 many animals ' lose their heads ' and their lives on being 

 overtaken by railway trains, Jesse gives the following instance 

 of presence of mind, of nerve, of the soundest good sense, in 

 sudden and serious danger, in young pigs too. Fifteen of 

 them had got upon a line of rails as a train approached. 



