THE BOAR. 



prefers vegetable to animal food. The ftructure of his feet likewife adds to 

 the refemblance ; for, although his hoofs are divided into only two parts, yet 

 it will appear, on defection, that they are furnifhed with bones fimilar to 

 thofe found in beafts of prey. Like them, too, the Hog brings forth a 

 numerous progeny, and has a great number of teats to fuckle them. 



Naturally inoffennve and harmlefs, the Hog is polTelTed of powers, which, 

 when they are called forth to action, render him a very formidable enemy. 

 He does not indeed feek danger, but when prefent, he does not feem 

 anxioully to avoid it ; when hard prelfed in the chace, both hunters and 

 hounds frequently fall a facrifice to his fury and refentment. 



If we conlider the Hog, in its domeftic Hate, it is hardly poliible to 

 imagine an animal of a more fordid and brutal nature. Infatiable in its 

 appetite, it feems to delight in what is moil offenlive to other animals. 

 Juftice, however, obliges us to confefs, that this is not the character of the 

 Hog in a wild Hate ; it is then more delicate in the choice of its food than 

 any other quadruped ; for Linnaeus alTerts, that the Cow eats two hundred 

 and feventy-lix plants, the Horfe two hundred and fix ty- two, the Goat four 

 hundred and forty-nine, and the Sheep three hundred and eighty-feven ; but 

 the Hog, more delicate in his appetite, eats but feventy-two. It mould feem, 

 therefore, that this valuable creature was given to man, by the all-wife 

 Creator, to confume and turn to the beft account, what would otherwife be 

 wafted and loft. Upon the whole, then, it appears that, although the 

 appetite of the Hog is fo general, it is certainly not indifferent in the choice 

 of its food ; and, when it has variety, will diftinguifh that which is moft 

 agreeable to its palate with as much accuracy as any other quadruped. 



The Hog is the moft indolent of all domeftic animals, and feems to 

 polfefs the guidance of inftinct in a very inferior degree. It is indeed, in fome 

 meafure, capable of inftruction, as the tricks performed by the learned pig, 

 lately exhibited in London and elfewhere, clearly demonftrate. It is, 

 however, a ftranger to attachment, except from felfilh motives, and continues 

 through life an ufelefs dependant on man. The thicknefs of its hide and 

 fat renders it almoft infenlible to blows and ill-treatment, and Mice have 



