PIGS. 
433 
maturity, they fatten on a small quantity of food, and their flesh is white and 
delicate.” The native breeds of Britain, according to the same authority, may be 
divided into those of small size, with erect or semi-erect ears; and those with larger 
bodies and long pendent ears. Nearly all these have, however, been more or 
less largely crossed with the Siamese, or, as it is often called, the Chinese breed: 
and the general tendency of modern breeding is towards a reduction in size 
and uniformity in character. Of the smaller kinds, with short erect ears, one 
of the most distinct is the Highland breed; these pigs being lean, wiry, greyish 
animals, of great hardihood, roaming over the Scottish moors almost at will, and 
doing great harm to game and other birds. Near the sea they will feed on 
molluscs and dead fish, and their flesh, at all times coarse, then acquires a fishy 
taste. They are also found in the Hebrides and Orkneys. 
The larger breeds with pendent flapping ears are chiefly characteristic of 
the lowlands, but few now remain which have not been crossed with foreign 
blood. In colour they are mostly white, or white spotted with black. They 
are long in coming to maturity and fatten slowly, but they attain enormous 
dimensions, and have the advantage of producing large litters, and being excellent 
mothers. The Yorkshire and Lincolnshire breeds, as well as those of the Eastern 
counties, are large white pigs, with pendent ears; the Essex breed (which has 
now been largely crossed with the Chinese) being remarkable for the fineness 
of the skin and the softness of the bristles. The Hampshire is also a noted 
breed; while the largest of all is the Rudgwick. One of the most valuable is, 
however, the Berkshire breed, which is somewhat inferior in point of size. 
Originally these pigs, as shown in the illustration on p. 428, were generally 
of a reddish brown colour, with brown or black spots; but by crossing with the 
Chinese breed, or derivates thereof, the size has been reduced, and the colour 
changed to black, although, when the crossing has been with the white breed, 
it is more generally black mixed with white. The original Berkshire, writes 
Mr. Low, “ is still regarded as one of the superior breeds of England, combining 
size with a sufficient aptitude to fatten, and being fitted for pork and bacon, 
and it is held to be the hardiest of the more improved races.” The Harrison 
pig, figured on p. 430, is intended to exhibit one of the best types of fattening breeds ; 
while the white dwarf Chinese pig, represented in the illustration on p. 432, 
exhibits the greatest diminution in size, coupled with an almost completely 
cylindrical form of bod}'. 
It may be observed that although the usual mode of life led by pigs in 
England is not calculated to develop their intellectual faculties, yet they 
are by no means deficient in intelligence, and display a remarkable acuteness 
of scent. Indeed, a pig lias been trained to stand to game as steadily as the 
best-bred pointer. 
Before taking leave of domesticated swine, we must not omit 
Masked Swine* 0 . 
to mention the curious Japanese masked pig, represented in the 
figure on p. 434. This pig, writes Darwin, “ has an extraordinary appearance, 
from its short head, broad forehead, and nose, great fleshy ears and deeply- 
furrowed skin. Not only is the face furrowed, but thick folds of skin, which 
are harder than the other parts, almost like the plates on the Indian rhinoceros, 
VOL. ii.—28 
