336 



THE BEECH. 



playing as usual. He then leaves them a little 

 more to themselves, having an eye, hovrever, on 

 their evening hours. But, as they are not hungry, 

 they seldom wander far from home, retiring very 

 early and orderly to bed. After this he throws 

 his sty open, and leaves them to cater for them- 

 selves ; and from henceforward has little more 

 trouble with them during the whole time of their 

 migration. Now and then, in calm weather, 

 when mast falls sparingly, he calls them perhaps 

 together by the music of his horn to a gratuitous 

 meal ; but, in general, they need little attention, 

 returning regularly home at night, though they 

 often wander in the day two or three miles from 

 their sty. There are experienced leaders in all 

 herds, which have spent this roving life before, 

 and can instruct their juniors in the method of it. 



In these forest migrations, it is commonly 

 observed, that, of w^hatever number the herd con- 

 sists, they generally separate, in their daily 

 excursions, into such little knots and societies as 

 have formerly had habits of intimacy together ; 

 and in these friendly groups they range the 

 forest, returning home at night in different parties, 

 some earlier and some later, as they have been 

 more or less fortunate in the pursuits of the day. 



^' Besides the hogs thus led out in the mast 

 season to fatten, there are others, the property of 

 forest keepers, which spend the whole year in 

 such societies. After the mast season is over, 

 the indigenous forest hog depends chiefly for 

 his livelihood on the roots of fern ; and he vv^ould 

 find this food very nourishing, if he could have it 

 in abundance. But he is obliged to procure it by 

 so laborious an operation, that his meals are rarely 



