406 THE DOMESTIC HOG. 



abused, depends greatly on its keeper, for no animal delights 

 more in clean dry straw. It is true that it is fond of wallowing 

 in the mire, especially in summer, not only to avoid being 

 roasted too soon by the heat of the sun, but to protect 

 itself from being too much titilated by flies and other trouble- 

 some insects, for its hide, though tough and hard, is extremely 

 sensitive. Mud is, therefore, even a more necessary article 

 to the toilet of a pig, than pomatum or bear's grease to 

 that of its master. The alleged stupidity of the hog it is 

 impossible to admit; for it has intelligence, if not gratitude, 

 enough to recognise those persons who befriend it, coming 

 at their call, and following them about to receive gratuities or 

 caresses. Then, there have been pig-pointers, pig truffle -finders, 

 and even learned pigs. Some years since, I saw one of these 

 learned specimens a second Bacon exhibited in a travelling 

 show. A circular space was kept clear for the pig, and when 

 told to point out a man in some particular dress, or a young 

 lady in love, the animal moved round the ring with its snout to 

 the ground, and stopped at the feet of a man in the specified 

 attire, or a damsel with a languishing face. Cards were next 

 spread round the ring, and the pig was desired to present his 

 snout to the queen of diamonds or the king of clubs, all which 

 he did. But that he got, meanwhile, more credit for sagacity 

 than he really possessed was soon evident on ascertaining that a 

 horizontal wheel with a savoury morsel attached to it, revolved 

 immediately beneath the circular floor of the learned savan, 

 whose nose followed the scent and halted wherever the latter 

 did 5 the wheel being turned and stopped at its proper place 

 by a concealed confederate. 



Swine are very fond of scratching themselves against trees or 

 posts ; and perhaps this habit may explain Lovell's observation, 

 that they are " hated in Scotland." 



The sow produces twice a year, goes with young sixteen weeks, 

 and is probably more prolific than any animal of her size. The 

 number of young at a litter is from seven or eight to eighteen, or 

 even twenty. Indeed, an instance is on record of a sow having 



