68 DOMESTIC PIGS. 



Chap. III. 



the 8. scrofa palustris or Torfschwein. Eiitimeyer perceived 

 that the latter approached the Eastern breeds, and, according 

 to Nathusius, it certainly belongs to the 8. Indicus group ; but 

 Kiitirneyer has subsequently shown that it differs in some well- 

 marked characters. This author was formerly convinced that 

 his Torfschwein existed as a wild animal during the first part 

 of the Stone period, and was domesticated during a later part 

 of the same period. 5 Nathusius, whilst he fully admits the 

 curious fact first observed by Eiitimeyer, that the bones of 

 domesticated and wild animals can be distinguished by their 

 different aspect, yet, from special difficulties in the case of the 

 bones of the pig (Schweineschadel, s. 147), is not convinced of 

 the truth of this conclusion ; and Eiitimeyer himself seems now 

 to feel some doubt As the Torfschwein was domesticated at so 

 early a period, and as its remains have been found in several 

 parts of Europe, belonging to various historic and prehistoric 

 ages, 6 and as closely allied forms still exist in Hungary and on 

 the shores of the Mediterranean, one is led to suspect that 

 the wild 8. Indicus formerly ranged from Europe to China, in 

 the same manner as 8. scrofa now ranges from Europe to Hin- 

 dostan. Or, as Eiitimeyer apparently suspects, a third allied 

 species may formerly have lived in Europe and Eastern Asia. 



Several breeds, differing in the proportions of the body, in the 

 length of the ears, in the nature of the hair, in colour, &c, 

 come under the 8. Indicus type. Nor is this surprising, con- 

 sidering how ancient the domestication of this form has been 

 both in Europe and in China. In this latter country the date 

 is believed by an eminent Chinese scholar 7 to go back at least 

 4900 years from the present time. This same scholar alludes 

 to the existence of many local varieties of the pig in China ; 

 and at the present time the Chinese take extraordinary pains 

 in feeding and tending their pigs, not even allowing them to 

 walk from place to place. 8 Hence the Chinese breed, as 

 Nathusius has remarked, 9 displays in an eminent degree the 

 characters of a highly-cultivated race, and hence, no doubt, its 



5 ' Pfablbauten,' s. 163 et passim. ville, < Osteographie,' p. 163. 



6 £eeRutimeyer'sNeueBeitrage,.... s Richardson, 'Pigs, their Origin,' 

 Torfschweine, Verb. Naturfor. Gesell. &c, p. 26. 



in Basel, iv. i., 1865, s. 139. 9' < Die Eacen deg s c h wem es,' s. 47, 



7 Stan. Julien, quoted by De Blain- 64. 



