42 HOG. Clafs I. 



tants. By this osconomy of nature, the earth is ne- 

 ver overllocked, nor any part of the creation ufelefs. 

 This obfervation may be exemplified in the animal 

 before us ; the hog alone devouring what is the re- 

 fufe of all the reft, and contributing not only to re- 

 move what would be a nuifance to the human race ; 

 but alfo converting the moft naufeous offals into the 

 richeft nutriment: for this reafon its llomach is capa- 

 cious, and its gluttony excefTive ; not that its palate is 

 infenfibie to the difference of eatables ; for where ic 

 finds variety, it will reje6l the worft with as diitin- 

 guifliing a tafte as other quadrupeds *. In the or- 

 chards of peach-trees in North-America^ where hogs 

 have plenty of delicious food, it is obferved that they 

 will rejecTc the fruit that has lain but a few hours on 

 the ground, and continue on the watch for a long 

 time for a ficfli wind-fall. 



This animal has (not unaptly) been compared to a 

 mifer, who is ufelefs and rapacious in his life ; but on 

 his death becomes of public ufe, by the very effe^s 

 of his fordid manners. The hog- during life does 

 not render the left fetvice to mankind, except in re- 

 moving that filth which other animals rejefl : his 

 more than common brutality, urges him to devour 

 even his own off-fpring. All other domellic quadru- 



* The ingenious author of the Pan Suecus, has proved this be- 

 yond contradidiion, having with great induftry drawn up tables of 

 the number of vegetables, which each domcfttc animal chufes, or 

 rejefts : and it is found that the hog eats but 72, and retufes 171 

 plants. 



The Ox eats 276. reje61s 218. 

 Goat 449« '■26. 



Sheep 387. 141. 



Hoiii 262. 212- Jftta:n. Aiad, n. ZQZ' 



peds 



