416 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



himself, and the perfection of which constitutes the exclu- 

 sive prerogative of man. 



The astonishing fecundity of the animals now under 

 consideration, is one of their most obvious and remarkable 

 characters. They live and multiply in every climate of the 

 world, with the exception of the Polar regions ; accord- 

 ingly we find that, though their natural life would, if 

 permitted, extend to fifteen or twenty years, yet they are 

 capable of reproduction from nine months or a year old. 

 Their lubricity is extreme, and even furious. The rut is 

 almost perpetual, and the female, even in a state of preg- 

 nancy, will seek the male. It is even said that she will occa- 

 sionally admit the advances of a male of a different species. 

 The production of fifteen or even twenty in a litter is not 

 unfrequent, and instances have been known even of thirty- 

 seven. The celebrated Vauban has made a calculation of 

 the probable production of an ordinary sow, during the 

 space of ten years. He has not comprehended the male 

 pigs in his estimate, though they may reasonably be sup- 

 posed as numerous as the females in each litter. Moreover, 

 six young ones only, male and female, have been allowed to 

 each, though generally they are more numerous. The 

 result is, that the product of a single sow in eleven years, 

 which are equivalent to ten generations, will be six million 

 four hundred and thirty-four thousand eight hundred and 

 thirty-eight pigs. Taking it however in round numbers, 

 and allowing for accident, disease, and the ravages of 

 wolves, four hundred and thirty-four thousand eight hun- 

 dred and thirty-eight, there will remain six million of pigs, 

 which is about the number existing in France. " Were we 

 to extend our calculations," says Vauban, "to the twelfth 

 generation, we should find as great a number to result as 

 all Europe would be capable of supporting ; and were they 

 to be continued to the sixteenth, as great a number would 

 result as would be adequate to the abundant peopling of the 



