100 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



with the native hog it forms an excellent breed, which we ma/ 

 call the improved China breed. Hogs of this mixed breed are 

 various in color black, white, spotted, and gray and white ; 

 they are longer in body than the pure Chinese breed ; small in 

 the head and legs ; broad in the back ; round in the body ; the 

 hams well let down ; skin thin ; flesh delicate and finely flavor- 

 ed. They are easy keepers ; small consumers ; quiet in dis- 

 position ; not disposed to roam ; and when in condition may be 

 kept so upon grass only. 



3. The Berkshire Breed. This was one of the earliest im- 

 proved of the English breeds, and is deemed by many the most 

 excellent of all the varieties at present known. It is certainly 

 the most widely distributed and most generally approved. It 

 is a breed which is distinguished by being, in general, of a 

 tawny white, or rufous-brown color, spotted with black or 

 brown ; head well placed, large ears, generally standing forward, 

 though sometimes hanging over the eyes; body thick, close, 

 and well made ; legs short, small in the bone ; coat rough and 

 curly, wearing the appearance of indicating both skin and flesh 

 of a coarse quality. Such, however, is not the case, for they 



Fig. 2T. 



THE BERKSHIBB HOG. 



have a disposition to fatten quickly : nothing can be finer than 

 the bacon, and the animals attain to a very great size. 



