130 
MAMMALIA. 
Our second family is that of the 
Pachydermata Ordinaria, — 
Which have four, three, or two toes to their feet. Those in which the toes make even num- 
bers have feet somewhat cleft, and approximate the Ruminants in various parts of the 
skeleton, and even in the comphcation of the stomach. They are usually divided into two 
genera. 
The Hippopotami {Hippopotamus, Lin.) — 
Have four nearly equal toes to each foot, terminated by little hoofs ; six grinders on each side of both 
jaws, the three anterior of which are conical, the posterior presenting two pairs of points, which, by 
detrition, assume a trefoil shape ; four incisors above and below, those of the upper jaw short, conical, 
and recurved, the inferior prolonged, cylindrical, pointed, and horizontally projecting ; a canine tooth 
on each side above and below, the upper straight, the lower very large and recurved, those of the two 
jaws rubbing against each other. 
These animals have a very massive body, naked of hair ; very short legs, their belly almost 
touching the ground ; an enormous head, terminated by a swoln muzzle, which encloses the apparatus 
of their large front teeth ; a short tail, and small eyes and ears. Their stomaeh is divided into several 
sacs. They live in rivers, upon roots and other vegetable substances, and display much ferocity and 
stupidity. 
One living species only is known, the H. ampMbius, Lin., now confined to the rivers of medial and south 
Africa. It formerly found its way to Egypt by the Nile, but has long disappeared from that country. 
The European freshwater deposits contain the bones of a species of Hippopotamus very similar to that of 
Africa, and also of two or three others successively smaller. (See my Researches on Fossil Bones, vol. i.) 
The Pigs {Sus, Lin.) — 
Have two large middle toes to each foot, armed with strong hoofs, and two much shorter lateral ones 
that hardly touch the ground. Their incisors vary in number, but the inferior always slant forward ; 
the canines project from the mouth and curve upward: muzzle terminated by a truncated snout 
adapted to turn up the soil, and stomach but slightly divided. 
The Pigs, properly so called, — 
Have from twenty-four to twenty-eight grinders, the posterior of which are oblong, with tuberculated 
crowns, the anterior more or less compressed, and six incisors to each jaw. 
The Wild Boar {Sus scropha, Lin.), which is the parent stock of our Domestic Hog and its varieties, has pris- 
matic tusks that curve outward and slightly upward ; the body stout and thick ; straight ears; the hair bristly 
and black : the young ones are variegated black and white. It does great injury to fields in the neighbourhood 
of forests, by teai'ing up the ground in search of roots. 
The Domestic Pig varies in size and length of limbs, in the direction of its ears, and also in colour ; being white 
or black, sometimes red, and often varied. Every one is acquainted with the usefulness of this animal, on account 
of the flavour of its flesh, and the length of time it can be preserved by means of salt ; the facility with which it is '' 
fed ; and its great fecundity, which surpasses that of all other animals of its size, the female often producing 
fourteen young at a litter. The period of gestation is four months, and they produce twice a year. The Hog 
continues to increase in size for five or six years, is prolific at one, and sometimes lives to twenty. Although 
naturally savage, they are social, both wild and tame, and know how to defend themselves against Wolves, by 
forming a circle, and presenting a front in every direciion. Voracious and savage, they do not even spare their 
own young, [at least, if the parent be disturbed soon after their birth]. This species is spread throughout the j 
globe, and none but Jews and Mahometans refuse to eat its flesh. [It appears to be indigenous only, however, to | 
Europe and Asia, extending to the Peninsula of Hindostan : the Chinese breed is probably a distinct species, 
though it commingles freely with the other.] 
The Masked Boar {S. larvatus, F. Cuv. ; S. africanus, Schreber ; Sanglier de Madagascar, Daub.)— Tusks like 
the Common Hog ; but on each side of the muzzle, near the tusks, is a large tubercle, somewhat like the nipple of 
a woman, supported by a bony prominence, which imparts a singular physiognomy to the animal. It inhabits 
Madagascar and the south of Africa. 
The Babyroussa {Sus babyrussa, Butf. Supp.) — Longer and more slender legs than the others, with slender tusks i 
turned vertically upwards, those of the upper jaw inclining spirally backward. It inhabits several islands of the 
Indian Archipelago. [The Papuan Hog {S. papuensis) is another distinct species from New Guinea.] 
From the Pigs require to be separated 
