242 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



districts and become entirely exterminated as a result, and whilst 

 it is also looked upon with disfavour by the forester, who recognizes 

 the damage it does by ripping up the roots and trampling down 

 plantations, it is as well to remember that "by incessant burrowing 

 it destroys an immense quantity of injurious insect larvae, and at the 

 same time, by burying underground the fruits of the trees, it brings 

 about involuntarily a sort of natural sowing of the forest." 



The Domestic Pig has, of course, been utilized by man for a 

 great number of years, and by judicious selection has been brought 

 to a remarkable state of perfection, but even to the casual observer 

 distinguishing differences will at once be apparent, for in the better 

 known animals of the pigsty it will be noticed that the tusks are 

 absent, the skull is shorter and higher, and the body is not clothed 

 with hairs to the same extent. Yet we learn that when Domestic 

 Pigs are given their freedom and allowed to return to a wild 

 state, they "reassume the form and structure of their ancestral 

 parents." 



Beyond being in such request for the purpose of food, domestic- 

 ated Swine are of use, for pig-skin makes a most serviceable leather 

 and is particularly useful for saddles ; from the bristles hair brushes 

 are manufactured, and in many other ways these animals are of use, 

 one writer facetiously remarking that everything in connection with 

 them is useful with the exception of their "squeal." 



The Wild Boar of Europe is dusky-brown or grey in colour, 

 tending to black, whilst the young ones are white, and, as a rule, 

 marked with yellow longitudinal stripes. In a wild state the old 

 boar is found to be of a solitary disposition, and it is he who is such 

 a dangerous adversary, as he has longer tusks than the sow and 

 is of larger size. The sow and young keep together in small 

 parties. 



In Britain, where many of the forests in which it roamed are now 

 no more, the Wild Boar was protected by William I. After the 

 decease of that monarch the animal died out, but later on it was 

 reintroduced by Charles I into the New Forest in Hampshire. The 

 advent of the Civil War, however, soon put an end to its reintro- 

 duction and the animals were all destroyed. After this, so far as 

 I am aware, no further effort was made to reintroduce them, but I 

 remember some years ago seeing some at Windsor which belonged 

 to Queen Victoria, and which I believe were a present from some 

 Indian Chief to "the Great White Queen." 



