The Bee Orchis 



439 



The rim of the orbit in the pigs skull is never complete. 



The swine, pig or hog family has several species. 



The hog proper (Sus scrofa), common in Europe, Asia, North 

 Africa, but not in northern latitudes. Unknown in Australia 

 and on the American Continent. The Wild boar, Irish grey- 

 hound pig (with dewlaps) and Indian hog, are only varieties. 



The Babiroussa, or pig-deer, occurs in Borneo and Celebes ; 

 long and very peculiar tusks. 



The Bush-hog of North Africa and Madagascar (Potamochcevus 

 pencillatus) has very peculiar ears, looking as if they had been 

 pared. It has warts and curved lines of white bristles on its 

 face. The Wart-hog has large skin growths or warts under 

 its eyes. Is very apt to lose its incisor teeth. (Ethiopia.) 



Forty-four teeth are found in the true hogs. 



Boars are not dangerous if unmolested, but are courageous 

 and fierce when attacked. Fond of water and wet situations 

 since their skins are not protected. 



It is a curious fact that domestic swine have some tendency 

 to become one-hoofed. This tendency is heritable, and in 

 Texas there is a breed of one-hoofed pigs. The last joints of 

 the middle toes are consolidated into one bone. 



Specimens of the single-hoofed or Texas pig are not as 

 yet easily obtained in England. They would be very in- 

 structive. 



THE BEE ORCHIS. 



The poet Langhorne noted the marvellous resemblance of 

 the flower of the Bee Orchis to a bee in the following lines : — 



See on that flow'ret's velvet breast, 



How close the busy vagrant lies ! 

 His thin-wrought plume, his downy breast, 



The ambrosial gold that swells his thighs. 



Perhaps his fragrant load may bind 

 His limbs — we'll set the captive free — 



I sought the Living Bee to find, 

 And found the Picture of a Bee. 



