170 MAMMALIA. 



the colour are variable. Whilst in otlier domestic animals the fat 

 is placed between the muscles, in the Pig it forms between the 

 flesh and the subcutaneous muscles. "VYhen cured, this is called 

 bacon. In the interior of the body, that is to say, below the 

 peritoneum, is found a secretion from which lard is made. 



The legs are thin, and more or less short, according to the 

 breed ; the toes are four in number, two large ones, which rest 

 on the gromid and on which the animal supports itself, and two 

 smaller ones, which are higher up the limb. The last joint of 

 each toe is enveloped in a triangular horn. Its tail is small, thin, ,: 

 and twisted. : 



According to certain authors, the Domestic Pig has lost nothing 1 

 of the brutality of character and rusticity of habits of the Wild 

 Boar ; it has not onl^', say thej', become less intelligent, retaining 

 all the faidts of the latter, but none of its good qualities. Accord- 

 ing to others, the Pig is not what some people erroneously sup- 

 pose : but is clever and sagacious, and can be educated and 

 instructed. 



In justification of this latter opinion we are told of some 

 touching traits of good-fellowship that existed between a Pig 

 and a Dog. We are reminded that Pigs have been trained for 

 the chase ; that a Pig was exhibited on the stage in London and 

 in America, and that it was the hero of many a play ; and, lastly, 

 the audiences were in raptures at the amoimt of its language. 

 " Its cries of distress are lamentable," saj^s Dr. Jonathan Franklin. 

 " On the other hand, when it is happy, when it is walking at 

 liberty in the sim, it converses with its friends in short, energetic, 

 broken phrases, which doubtless express its good-humoiu- and its 

 sociable feelings." * 



This indidgent interpretation of the gruntings of the Pig is, 

 perhaps, open to dispute. Without pretending to settle the 

 matter, we will call our readers' attention to a characteristic about 

 which there is no doubt whatever, we mean the peculiarity this 

 animal has of refusing obstinately to perform that which is re- 

 quired of it, and of doing exactly the opposite. This spirit of 

 stubborn opposition is so well known, that Man turns it to his 

 own advantage. "^^Hien a pig-driver wishes to make a Pig ad- 

 vance in a certain direction against its will, he drags it with all 



* La Vie des Animaux, Svo., Mammifires. 



