370 
COMMON HOG. 
ed to clear the earth of refuse and filth ; and that 
convert the most nauseous offali into the richest 
nutriment in its flesh. It has not altogether been 
unaptly compared to a miser, who is useless and 
rapacious in his life, but at his death becomes of 
public use, by the very effects of his sordid man- 
ners. During his life he renders little service to 
mankind, except in removing that filth which other 
animals reject. 
The extreme thickness of his hide and fat ren- 
ders the hog almost insensible to ill-treatment, and 
instances have even occured of mice eating their 
way into the fat on the back of one of these animals 
without incommoding the creature. Although 
naturally inoffensive, he possesses powers which, 
when called into action, render him a very formi- 
dable enemy. He is, however, stupid, inactive, 
and drowsy ; and nothing but the calls of appetite 
interrupts his repose, to which he always returns as 
soon as this is satiated. 
The senses of smelling and taste are enjoyed by 
these animals in great perfection. Wind seems t® 
have great influence on them, for when it blows 
violently they seem much agitated, and run to- 
wards the sty, sometimes screaming in a most vio- 
lent manner. Naturalists have also remarked, that 
on the approach of bad weather, they will bring 
straw to the sty, as if to guard against its effects. 
The country people in some parts of England have 
% singular adage that pigs can see the wind / 5 
The female goes four months with young, and 
has very numerous litters, sometimes so many as 
twenty at a time. These animals live to a consi- 
derable age, even to twenty- five or thirty years. 
The flesh, though very nutritious, from not being 
so digestible as some other kinds of animal food, 
is supposed to be unwholesome to persons who lead 
sedentary lives. 
