202 
THE SWINE. 
In their form, they are low set ; the body nearly 
cylindrical ; the head placed upon the same line 
with the trunk. The skin is thick, covered with 
strong and stiff hair, called bristles, which are 
in general thinly planted, and have often an 
under fur of fine curled hair. In many cases, 
however, this last is wanting, and the skin is 
distinctly seen among the bristles. They are 
furnished with a strong mane. The tail is short, and 
generally twisted ; but in some forms it is entirely 
wanting. In the males, the canine teeth are greatly 
developed, prove formidable weapons of offence 
or defence, and by an enraged animal are made 
to inflict torn wounds of a most severe kind. 
Their food is mostly roots and vegetables, and 
also worms and insects, to procure which they 
are furnished with an elongated nose, supplied 
with a strong cartilage at the extremity, and with 
powerful muscles, which renders this flexible, and 
enables them to turn up the soft or moist ground 
in search of roots, or worms and insects, in which 
they are also assisted by their acute sense of 
smell. Acorns, beech-mast chestnuts, and the 
produce of similar fruit-bearing trees, are also a 
very favourite as well as fattening food ; and the 
herdsmen of old, and even yet, in some of the 
English forests, avail themselves of this, and drive 
their pigs in autumn to feed and fatten themselves 
in the woodlands of oak and chestnut. When 
