PIGS. 433 



maturity, they fatten on a small quantity of food, and their flesh is white and 

 delicate." The native breeds of Britain, according to the same authority, may be 

 divided into those of small size, with erect or semi-erect ears ; and those with larger 

 bodies and long pendent ears. Nearly all these have, however, been more or 

 less largely crossed with the Siamese, or, as it is often called, the Chinese breed ; 

 and the general tendency of modern breeding is towards a reduction in size 

 and uniformity in character. Of the smaller kinds, with short erect ears, one 

 of the most distinct is the Highland breed ; these pigs being lean, wiry, greyish 

 animals, of great hardihood, roaming over the Scottish moors almost at will, and 

 doing great harm to game and other birds. Near the sea they will feed on 

 molluscs and dead fish, and their flesh, at all times coarse, then acquires a fishy 

 taste. They are also found in the Hebrides and Orkneys. 



The larger breeds with pendent flapping ears are chiefly characteristic of 

 the lowlands, but few now remain which have not been crossed with foreign 

 blood. In colour they are mostly white, or white spotted with black. They 

 are long in coming to maturity and fatten slowly, but they attain enormous 

 dimensions, and have the advantage of producing large litters, and being excellent 

 mothers. The Yorkshire and Lincolnshire breeds, as well as those of the Eastern 

 counties, are large white pigs, with pendent ears ; the Essex breed (which has 

 now been largely crossed with the Chinese) being remarkable for the fineness 

 of the skin and the softness of the bristles. The Hampshire is also a noted 

 breed ; while the largest of all is the Rudgwick. One of the most valuable is, 

 however, the Berkshire breed, which is somewhat inferior in point of size. 

 Originally these pigs, as shown in the illustration on p. 428, were generally 

 of a reddish brown colour, with brown or black spots ; but by crossing with the 

 Chinese breed, or derivates thereof, the size has been reduced, and the colour 

 changed to black, although, when the crossing has been with the white breed, 

 it is more generally black mixed with white. The original Berkshire, writes 

 Mr. Low, " is still regarded as one of the superior breeds of England, combining 

 size with a sufficient aptitude to fatten, and being fitted for pork and bacon, 

 and it is held to be the hardiest of the more improved races." The Harrison 

 pig, figured on p. 430, is intended to exhibit one of the best types of fattening breeds : 

 while the white dwarf Chinese pig, represented in the illustration on p. 432, 

 exhibits the greatest diminution in size, coupled with an almost completely- 

 cylindrical form of bod}-. 



It may be observed that although the usual mode of life led by pigs in 

 England is not calculated to develop their intellectual faculties, yet they 

 are by no means deficient in intelligence, and display a remarkable acuteness 

 of scent. Indeed, a pig has been trained to stand to game as steadily as the 

 best-bred pointer. 



Before taking leave of domesticated swine, we must not omit 

 to mention the curious Japanese masked pig, represented in tin- 

 figure on p. 434. This pig, writes Darwin, "lias an extraordinary appearance, 

 from its short head, broad forehead, ami nose, greal fleshy ears and deeply- 

 furrowed skin. Not only is the face furrowed, but thick folds of skin, which 

 are harder than the other parts, almost like the plates on the Indian rhinoceros, 



VOL. ii. — 28 



