406 Instructions for Tri^e- Searching. 



place a truffle has generally been taken out, the scent of which 

 was perceived by the dog. 



§ 15. The Tncffie Search xmth Swine, and the Manner of train- 

 ing them. — In the 7th section it has been already mentioned 

 that wild and domestic swine are fond of truffles, and seek them 

 assiduously. It has, moreover, been more than once remarked, 

 that animals with a delicate sense of smelling easily find ripe 

 truffles. The domestic swine belongs likewise to this class of 

 animals ; and upon the two qualities which have been mentioned 

 is founded their use in truffle-searching, which has already long 

 prevailed in the south of Europe, in Spain, in the south of 

 France, and in some districts of Italy, but which in those coun- 

 tries has in a great measure been supplanted by the more con- 

 venient use of dogs. I once saw a French emigrant, many years 

 ago, practise truffle-searching widi swine ; but this, as he assured 

 me, was more for want of a poodle than from any other cause. 

 Undoubtedly the search with dogs has the advantage of that 

 with swine. The dog is more intelligent, more active, and may 

 be used a greater number of years. All these qualities are 

 wanting in the swine. I therefore here give the outline of the 

 training and use of swine in truffle-searching, rather historically, 

 and to make this work more complete, than because I recommend 

 its practice. 



As soon as the pigs are weaned, a lively one is made choice 

 of, usually a female, and is separated from the rest. It is more 

 habituated to human society. Endeavours are made to make it 

 obey the call and whistle, and follow its master like a dog, 

 either when it is at large, or fastened by the hind leg. This it 

 does without much trouble, when it is fed by a person's own 

 hand, and is allured by food from one place to another; and 

 when it is sometimes caressed like a dog. There is a very in- 

 teresting instance of the taming of a young boar that was caught 

 wild, which went a hunting with the hounds. It is to be met 

 with in the delightful Forest Journal of Hartig, first year, 1806, 

 p. 5^5. When four months old, the young pig may, in a proper 

 place, be accustomed to the search. Either real or artificial 

 truffles, or fruits that swine are fond of, such as apples and 

 pears, or potatoes, &c., which have been smeared with truffle 

 oil, are then hidden, and the pig is allowed to grub them up. 

 He finds them without much difficulty. They are taken from 

 him, and his usual food is given to him: a few acorns, chestnuts, 

 fruit, and such like are the best ; and for this he, in general, will- 

 ingly exchanges what he has found. When in his fifth or sixth 

 month, the swine may be first used in the actual search. He is 

 led whilst fasting, or very sparingly fed, into the truffle district, 

 and closely followed always by a person on foot. If he begins 

 to turn his nose to the wind, to smell, and to grub up, you can 



