DISQUALIFIED PIGS AT THE BIRMINGHAM SHOW. Ill 
to add that the pigs will now be slaughtered, but that the 
jaws will be preserved for future reference, if required. 
I remain, your obedient servant, 
E. G. Douglas Pennant. 
“ Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, Dec . ^ 5 lh .” 
[Copy.] 
“Veterinary Infirmary, Princes Street, Chester, 
“Dec. 10 th , 1862. 
“ This is to certify that by the request of the Hon. Colonel Douglas 
Pennant, M.P., of Penrhyn Castle, North Wales, I have this day exa¬ 
mined the ages of three pigs. I find their ages are respectively between 
ten and eleven months, and that each is uniformly of the same age. I 
observe there is a little irregularity in the dentition of one of the pigs, 
viz., the milk or first incisors are not cast, yet they are sufficiently loose 
to separate from the gums immediately, and the permanent teeth are 
formed to succeed them. It is my opinion that this deviation from the 
laws of nature which guide us in determining the ages of our domesti¬ 
cated animals has been produced by some previous derangement of the 
natural functions of the said pig. I find also that the dentition of a 
second pig is not in so advanced a stage as of the third pig. For these 
appearances I can make every allowance, as I never knew the process 
quite uniform in one litter. 
“ J. T. Barth.” 
[Copy of Col. Pennant’s letter.] 
“Penrhyn Castle, Dec . I 2 th , 1862. 
“ Sir,—I have received the certificate which you forwarded to me 
about the pigs examined by you at my farm. As on these occasions it 
is desirable that the language of the certificate should be as clear as 
possible, I should be obliged if you would let me know distinctly whether 
there is anything in the appearance of the teeth of those animals which 
in your opinion would prove that they are not of the same litter or of 
the same age. 
“ I remain, &c., 
“E. Douglas Pennant. 
“ Mr. Barth.” 
[Copy.] 
“Veterinary Infirmary, Princes Street, Chester, 
“Dec. 13^;*, 1862. 
“ Sir,—In reply to yours received this morning, I beg to say there is 
nothing whatever in the appearance of the pigs that would prove or 
excite suspicion that they were not of the same litter or of the same 
age. Although the process of dentition is not in such an advanced stage 
of pig No. 1 as of pig No. 2, neither is it in pig No. 2 as of No. 3, still, 
it is my opinion the three pigs are of the same age. It is a well-known 
fact by ail who have made use of opportunities that have been afforded 
them of observing the changes that take place with the teeth of pigs, 
that scarcely in one litter in a hundred will they find the process of den¬ 
tition uniform. I of course cannot presume to say your three pigs are 
of the same litter, but as I am of opinion they are of the same age, and 
