16 
THE HOG. 
OLD ENGLISH BREED. 
described by former observers cannot now be traced. In general, it may be said that all the breeds of this country have been 
tending to a smaller size and greater uniformity of character. 
The races of larger Swine, with long bodies and pendent ears, are not peculiar to England, but extend to many parts of 
Europe. In Holland, Belgium, Germany, and France, are to be found breeds of similar characters, and equally removed from 
the natural standard. The Swine of Normandy are of the larger class, and very much resemble the older breeds of the southern 
and south-eastern counties of England. They are of a white colour, though this character varies with situation and treatment. 
The agriculturists of France, like those of England, have found the benefits of reducing the too great bulk of the larger races, and 
giving attention to the more essential properties of early maturity, and facility of fattening; but they have not carried to the same 
decree as the English the mixture of the races of eastern countries. In the south of France are to be seen very fine races of na- 
tive Hogs, resembling those of Italy. 
In Russia and the countries of the north of Europe, where the Wild Boar abounds, the domestic Swine have never deviated 
in the same degree from the parent type as in England and other countries which have been long cultivated. In those countries 
the Hogs are generally of a rufous-brown colour, of small size, and wild habits. 
The early settlers of the Anglo-American States carried with them the Swine of the parent country, and some of their breeds 
still retain traces of the old English character. But the inhabitants of the United States derived great numbers of Hogs from 
Africa during the long prevalence of the trade in slaves, and latterly their vastly extended foreign commerce has enabled them to 
procure the best varieties of other countries. The Americans have paid much attention to the rearing of Swine, and there is no 
other people by whom this species of food is used in quantities so large. This fondness for the flesh of the Hog the A mericans 
may be supposed to have derived from the early habits acquired in clearing their country of wood, when the Hog was the most 
serviceable of all the animals reared for the support of the settler. 
