1847.] On a new form of the Hog kind or Suida. 423 



under a very heavy hammer is soon beaten out ; but every blow unset- 

 tles on either side, as much of the crystals of the steel as it has com- 

 pressed beneath it : — and I believe, that four times as much labour 

 should be bestowed in hammering the slightly heated bar, as at present 

 it receives at Jullalpoor. 



But the imperfection of the furnace tends wholly to that of the 

 blade. For as it is impossible to give the same degree of heat to all 

 parts of the weapon at the same time ; one portion becomes harder and 

 more brittle than the other : and the blade is more liable to fracture 

 than if tbe whole were equally brittle. The equal distribution of heat 

 throughout the blade is perhaps attainable only by immersion in molten 

 metals ; a method practised, I believe, by Savigni, the celebrated cutler. 



Should you deem this worthy of publication in the Society's Journal, 

 I believe it will be the only existing record of the process of making 

 the simple damask sword blade. 



On a new form of the Hog hind or Suidce> by B. H. Hodgson, Esq. 



Pachydermata. 

 Suidse, Genus Porcula, mihi. 

 Generic character — Teeth f. \:\. f :f=40. 



Canines small, straight, severely cutting, but not ordinarily exserted 

 from the lips. Fourth toe on all the feet, small and unequal. Tail 

 very short but distinct. 



Type Porcula Salvania,* mihi. 



Pigmy Hog of the saul forest. 



Sano Banel and Chota Suvar 



of the Natives. 



Habitat, Saul forest. 



Sp. Ch. Pigmy Hog of a black brown colour, slightly and irregularly 



shaded with sordid amber. Iris Hazel ; nude skin, dirty flesh colour. 



Hoofs, glossy brown — length from snout to vent 18 to 20 inches. 



Height 8 to 10 inches. Weight 7 to 10, rarely 12 fts. 



Precision and comprehensiveness certainly belong to technical de- 

 scriptions ; and the above few words, though they may prove distasteful 

 * "SGCJtirr^JT, °f or belonging to the Saul forest. 



