IIKVIEW—ILLUSTllATIONS OF BlllTlSII ANIMALS. 567 
Egyptian and Jewish ritual. The Mahometans, in every part of 
the world, likewise abstain from the flesh of these animals. It is 
a custom perfectly unexplained, for the flesh of the hog is as nutri¬ 
tive and as wholesome as that of any other animal, and is not more 
unsuited to the Avarmer countries than any other species of animal 
food : on the contrary, it is the best and wholesomest food, for it is 
taken with perfect impunity ; and they Avho abstain from this food in 
warmer countries, are notoriously more subject to leprosy than others 
who indulge in it. 
The Romans indulged in their love of hogs’-flesh to a most dis¬ 
graceful extent. The animal was drowned in wine, or killed by 
repletion Avith honeyed Avine. He was then roasted Avhole, and 
stuffed Avith animals of all kinds, as thrushes, larks, nightingales, 
oysters, &c. He Avas finally placed on the table SAvimming in the 
richest Avines and gravies. 
The hog in a state of domestication has spread over almost every 
part of the Avorld; but he was carried to America by the earliest 
voyagers, and in the same Avay obtained a habitation in New 
Holland. This universal diffusion seems due to his remarkable 
fecundity in a domestic state, his easy maintenance, and his 
adaptation to almost every situation. It is pleasing to contemplate 
the vast power of increase which this animal possesses. A pair 
of them in the twelfth generation Avould produce a number as great 
as Europe is capable of maintaining. It is pleasing to compare 
this Avith the poAver of increase with that of another of the pachy- 
dermata. Were not the reproductive poAvers of the elephant as 
strangely limited, this vast creature would soon overrun the Avhole 
earth. The female brings forth only once in several years, and 
only one at a birth. In a state of slavery they scarcely propagate 
at all. There seems to be an instinct Avhich keeps them within the 
bounds Avhich would be safe to other creatures and to themselves. 
Mr. Loav has closely studied the habits of the domestic hog. 
Although reduced to the degradation of slavery, he is not destitute 
of sagacity, nor unsusceptible of attachment. He suffers himself 
to be caressed, and recognizes his protectors, and even has been 
taught to point at game Avith all the steadiness of the best trained 
pointer. 
J'he hog is an animal affording a great share of the means of 
subsistence to the inhabitants of different countries. The quantity 
of food of this kind consumed in our country is exceedingly great. 
Many of the animals being reared at home for domestic use, the 
number brought to market, large as it is, does not give us an ade- 
(juate idea of the ([uantity of pork produced and consumed. It is 
almost I lie only animal food that the peasants of many parts of the 
