Chap. III. 



THEIR VARIATION. 



69 



high, value in the improvement of our European breeds. 

 Nathusius makes a remarkable statement (Schweineschadel, 

 s. 138), that the infusion of the -^nd, or even of the 1 th, part 

 of the blood of S. Indicus into a breed of S. scrofa, is sufficient 

 plainly to modify the skull of the latter species. This singular 

 fact may perhaps be accounted for by several of the chief dis- 

 tinctive characters of S. Indicus, such as the shortness of the 

 lachrymal bones, &c, being common to several of the species 

 of the genus ; for in crosses the characters which are common 

 to many species apparently tend to be prepotent over those 

 appertaining to only a few species. 



The Japan pig (8. pliciceps of Gray), which has been re- 

 cently exhibited in the Zoological Gardens, has an extraor- 

 dinary appearance from its short head, broad forehead and nose, 

 great fleshy ears, and deeply furrowed skin. The following 

 woodcut is copied from that given by Mr. Bartlett. 10 Not only 



Fig. 2.— Head of Japan or Masked Pig. ("CoDird frnm m,. n n n i... 



Soc, I86l! p. 263 ) S Paper in Pr0C - Z ° 0l0g - 



Proc. Zoolog. Soc.,' 1861, p. 263. 



