1872.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
173 
The Abyssinian Wart-Hog. 
Those who saw Barnum's Menagerie after the 
additions were made to it last aulumn.will recog- 
nize in the engraving here given portraits of two 
of the most interesting ugly beasts in the col- 
lection—the "Wart- 
hogs of Abyssinia. 
These animals be- 
long to the genus 
Phaa>c7iaTus, and 
though in the same 
family with our do- 
mesticated swine, 
differ from them 
sufficiently to be 
placed in a separate 
genus. The "Wart- 
hogs have the same 
general appearance 
as the domesticated 
ones, but differ in 
the number and ar- 
rangement of their 
teeth. They have 
a very heavy look, 
and their uncouth 
appearance is en- 
hanced by the 
small size of their 
eyes and their 
very large ears. 
A marked characteristic, and one which gives 
them their common name — the scientific name 
being the same thing turned into Greek — 
is a warty appendage or tubercle attached be- 
low each eye. There are some four species 
known, all natives of Africa, and all having these 
peculiar appendages upon each side of the head. 
The species here figured has remarkably long 
bristles along the upper part of the neck and 
back, which serve to increase the wild aspect of 
the animal. In their native state the Wart-bogs 
are exceedingly ferocious, and we do not know 
of any attempts at domesticating them. It may 
be that if placed 
where, their wants 
were provided for, 
they would, like the 
wild hog of Europe, 
Jose their intracta- 
bility and become 
useful. When we 
compare the hogs 
of the wilder parts 
of the South and 
"West, where they 
are known as " sub- 
soilers," " ridge- 
backs," "jumping 
alligators," and 
"land-pikes," with 
a high-bred York- 
shire or Essex, the 
difference is veiy 
wide. Perhaps this 
wild hog of Africa 
is not so far below 
the "land-pike" as 
that is beneath the 
best specimens of 
our best breeders. 
"We do not know that these African animals 
possess any desirable qualities that should lead 
to their domestication, but this case is no more 
unpromising than was that of the originals of 
our valued breeds. It can not be supposed that 
all the animals likely to be useful to man have 
yet been brought under domestication. "We 
hope to see some day in this country a Society 
of Acclimation, which shall test under domesti- 
cation all animals tiiat promise usefulness, 
whether for their flesh or their coverings. 
Such a society existed in Paris, but the ani- 
mals were eaten during the siege. 
AETSSrNTAN WART-HOGS. 
Polled Cattle. 
Not long since, a "Western "stock journal" 
stated that there was no established breed of 
hornless cattle. Hornless or polled cows and 
oxen are not at all uncommon in some of the 
Western States, more especially in Illinois and 
Missouri, but still, in the United States, it is true 
we have no stock-breeders who make a special ty 
of this species. In "Western Canada there is at 
least one breeder who possesses a herd of pure- 
bred Galloways, of whicb race the cattle 
figured in the engraving is a true repre- 
GALLOWAY POLLED CATTLE. 
sentalion. Galloway is a district on the west 
coast of Scotland, which owing to the influence 
of the sea-breezes possesses a moist, warm cli- 
mate, so much so that figs are sometimes ripened 
in sheltered gardens when trained on walls 
having a south aspect. The soil, however, is 
poor, and the surface mainly composed of granite 
rocks, with peat bogs in the intervales. On the 
stunted but nutritious pastures afforded by such 
a country, a race of hardy cattle have been bred 
for centuries without any admixture from other 
races. They have, therefore, as may be ex- 
pected from all these conditions, and from the 
fact that they have 
been bred for the 
especial purpose of 
supplying the Eng- 
lish cities with beef, 
become a breed of 
active, hardy, com- 
paratively small, 
but exceedingly 
vigorous cattle, of 
but little account 
for the dairy, but 
carrying on their 
fine frame a pro- 
portionately large 
amount of good, 
well-flavored meat. 
The vigor of the 
race is understood 
when it is known 
that a Galloway 
bull will perpetuate 
bis qualities and 
marks thoroughly 
on the produce 
of even a pure 
Shorthorn cow. This peculiarity gives him 
an especial value to those breeders who de- 
sire to cross their stock with Galloway blood. 
The usual method of raising the young cattle 
in Galloway is to let them suck the cows; or if 
the cows are milked it is only at such times as 
when the calf has possession of one side of the 
cow and the milkmaid the other. Under these 
circumstances, it cau not be expected that the 
breed is fitted for the daily. But for certain dis- 
tricts in the United States they would be found 
valuable, as they have all the hardiness of the 
Texan, with strength and activity sufficient to 
enable them to 
travel hundreds of 
miles in droves with- 
out falling off in 
condition. It has 
been customary for 
the Galloway cattle 
to be driven in large 
herds to the Lon- 
don market, a dis- 
tance of five hun- 
dred miles, stopping 
nights to get a feed 
on pastures kept 
specially for them. 
Very often droves 
of lean stock have 
been retained on 
some of the rich 
meadows of the 
midland counties of 
England to be fat- 
tened. The breed has 
thus become crossed 
on the native stocks 
of Norfolk and 
Leicester, and in 
consequence a race of polled cattle has become 
established in those counties. But there the 
stock is generally of a red color, and more lilted 
for dairy purposes. An attempt is being made 
to import these Norfolk polled cattle into this 
country, and we think that it is a design 
worthy of being thoroughly carried out. 
