HOG 
HOG 
thereby gave the fowler an eafy opportunity of 
drawing a net over them. 
The Hobby has a prominent and crooked bill, 
covered at the bafe with a yellow fl<;in; the upper 
mandible is furnilhed with a procefs; the irides are 
hazel-coloured; and above each eye there is a 
white line. The crown of the head, the hoxk, 
and the coverts of the v/ings, are of a deep blue- 
ilh black hue ; the hind-part of the head is marked 
with two pale yellow fpots; and each cheek with 
a large black fpot pointing downv/ards. The in- 
terior webs of the fecondary and quill-feathers are 
variegated v/ith oval, tranfverfe, reddifh fpots; 
the breaft is white, marked with oblong fpots of 
black; the thighs and vent- feathers are a pale 
orange ; the middle feathers of the tail are entirely 
of a deep dove-colour, the others being barred on 
their inner webs with ferruginous, and tliDt with a 
dirty white; and the legs and feet are yellow. 
The female is confiderably larger than the male ; 
her breaft is marked v/ith higher-coloured fpots ; 
and her legs are greenilh. She builds in high 
trees, in various parts of England ; but migrates in 
Oftober. 
HOG. In the Linn^an fyftem the Hog forms 
a diftindt genus of animal? of the order of bellus 
and clafs of mammalia; the charafters of v/hich are 
■ thefe: the upper fore-teeth are four in number, and 
convergent; thofe of the lower jaw are fix, and 
prominent; the canine teeth of the upper jaw are 
tv/o, and fhort; thofe of the under jaw are fingle 
and protruded; and the fnout is truncated, promi- 
nent, and moveable. The Common Hog, the 
Guinea Hog, the Mexican Mufl<: Hog or Tagaar, 
the Capybara, and the Babyroufla, belong to this 
genus. 
Hog, Common. The Common Hog is fo 
well known, that any defcription of it may perhaps 
feem unnecefiary; and yet few are acquainted v/ith 
all the qualities and habitudes of that creature 
which inquifitive naturalifts have remarked. 
In animals of the Hog kind, thofe diftinftions 
feem to unite by which others are feparated. They 
refemble the horfe kind in the length of their 
heads, in having only a fingle ftomach, and in the 
number of their teeth, which amount to forty-four. 
With refpeft to their cloven hoofs, and the pohtion 
of their inteftines, they refemble the cow kind; 
and in their appetite for flefh, their numerous pro- 
geny, and chewing their cud, they refemble thofe 
of the claw-footed kind. 
Thus thefe animals may be confidered as of a 
middle nature between the rapacious and the 
peaceful kinds, neveithelefs partaking fomewhat 
of the nature of both. Like the rapacious tribes, 
their hoofs, on anatomical infpeftion, appear to be 
fitted v/ith bones, after the manner of beafts of 
prey ; and the number of their teats ferves to in- 
creafe the fimilitude. Like the peaceful kinds, 
in a natural ftate, they live on vegetables, and fel- 
dom f:'ek for animal food, except when urged by 
necelTity; and, though furnifhed with power fuffi- 
cient to annoy *:he boldeft animals of the foreft, 
they are equally inoffenfive to all. 
The Hog is apparendy the moft filthy and im- 
pure of all quadrupeds : however, it may be pro- 
per to reflect, that filthinefs is an idea merely re- 
lative to ourfelves; and that from our own fenfa- 
tions we are apt to form a partial judgment, and 
overlook that wife decree of Providence which 
adapts every part of creation to it's refpeflive in- 
\ habitants. The Hog, indeed, feems aduated with 
an infatiable defire of eating, and therefore his fto-^ 
inach is capacious; but though he devours the 
moft naufeous offals, we are not therefore to con^ 
elude that he is infenfible to the difference of food; 
for whenever he meets with variety, he is known 
to poffefs as diflinguifhing a palate as other ani- 
mals. 
This animal has not improperly been compared 
to the mifer, who during his life-time is ufeieis and 
rapacious; but, through the efFefts of his fordid- 
nefs, becomes of public benefit at his death. The 
Hog, in his life-time, does not render the leaft fer- 
vice to mankind ; his uncomm.on brutality fome- 
times urges him even to devour his own offspring. 
All other domeftic creatures (liew fome degree of 
refpeft for mankind, and even a fpecies of tender- 
nefs for children; but this animal will devour in- 
fants wlicn prompted by hunger, and feems inca- 
pable either of fidelity or affeftion. 
'i he Flog appears to be more imperfectly 
formed than any odier animals around us vv'hich 
vjc have rendered domefdc. It is lefs aftive in 
it's motions, and lefs capable of knowing what to 
purfi.ie and vv^hat to avoid. The thicknefs of it's 
hide, together v/ith the coarfenefs of it's hair, ren- 
der it almoft infenfible to blov/s and rough ufage. 
Being naturally ftupid, drov/fy, and ina6tive, when 
undifturbed it v/ill fleep half it's time: but it is 
frequently rouzed by the calls of hunger; and 
when thofe demands are fatisfied, it again retires 
to reft. It's whole life feems to be one continued 
round of gluttony and fleep; and, were it's crav- 
ings fuiiiciently gratified, it would foon become 
unable to fupport itielf on it's legs:, neverthelefsj 
it would ftiil continue feeding, lying, or kneeling; 
a heiplefs infcance of indulged fcniliality. The 
only time this creature feemis to have pafTions of 
a miore aftive nature, is when it is excited by ve- 
nery, or when the wind blows with fome degree 
of vehemence; on this laft occafion, it is fo agi- 
tated, as to run violently towards it's fty, fcream- 
ing horribly, as if under the moil: dreadful appre- 
henfions. It appears alfo to forelee the approach 
of bad v/eather, in carrying flraw to it's fty in it's 
mouth, preparing a bed, and hiding itfelf from 
the impending florm. Nor is it lefs affli£ted on 
hearing any of it's kind in diflrefs; for it feems to 
fympathize in their fufferings, and to offer it's un- 
availing affiftance. 
Though the Hog is one of the moff unpromif- 
ing animials in nature for human induftry to exert 
itfelf on, it has been known to profit fo confidera- 
bly by education, as to perform a6ts which it's ap- 
parent flupidity might well have rendered incredi- 
ble; fuch as telling the hour of the day by the 
bare infpeftion of a watch ; felefting fuch letters 
as compofe the largefl and moft unufual names; 
and producing the figures corrcfponding with the 
number of perfons in a room. Such are the afto- 
nifhing effefts of cultivation, when carried on with 
afTiduity and perfeverance. 
Moft of the difeafes of this animal arife from in- 
temperance; meafies, impofthumes, and fcrophu- 
lous fwellings, being reckoned among the num- 
ber: and it is aftualiy believed by fome, that it's 
propenfity to wallovv'ing in the mire is a natural 
inftinft for the deftru6cion of a fpecies of lice or 
infects which prey on it. If permitted to live, it 
will arrive at the age of eighteen or tv\'enty years ; 
and the female will produce till that of fifteen. 
As Hogs bring forth from, ten to tv/enty at a lit- 
ter, they would foon become very numerous, were 
5 C they 
