. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE BABYROUSSA. 209 In this country the Hog is used not only for food, but for the salce of the hide, which, when prepared after a peculiar fashion, is found to malce the best leather for saddles. The bristles which are so largely used in the manu- facture of brushes are almost exclusively imported from the Continent. In its wild and domesticated state the Hog is a most prolific animal, producing from eight to twelve pigs twice in each year, when it is in full vigour and in good health. GillDert White records a sow which, when she died, was the parent o
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE BABYROUSSA. 209 In this country the Hog is used not only for food, but for the salce of the hide, which, when prepared after a peculiar fashion, is found to malce the best leather for saddles. The bristles which are so largely used in the manu- facture of brushes are almost exclusively imported from the Continent. In its wild and domesticated state the Hog is a most prolific animal, producing from eight to twelve pigs twice in each year, when it is in full vigour and in good health. GillDert White records a sow which, when she died, was the parent of no less than three hundred pigs. There is a prevalent idea, that whenever the Hog takes to the water he cuts his own throat with the sharp hoofs of his fore-feet. This, however, is by no means the case, for the animal is an admirable swimmer, and will often take to the water intuitively. In one of the Moray Islands, three domestic pigs belonging to the same litter swam a distance of five miles; and it is said that if they had belonged to a wild family they would have swum to a much greater distance. The flesh and fat of the Hog is especially valuable on account of its apti- tude for taking salt without being rendered hard and indigestible by the process ; and the various breeds of domesticated Swine are noted for theii adaptation to form pork or bacon in the shortest time and of the best quahty. A full account of the various English varieties, together with the mode of breeding them and developing their peculiar characteristics, may be found in many books which are devoted especially to the subject. One of the most formidable-looking of Swine is the BABYROUSSA of Malacca. This strange creature is notable for the curious manner in which the tusks are arranged, four of ^^ V i »^ , _ these weapons being seen to project above the snout. The tusks of the lower jaw project upward on each side of the upper, as is the case with the ordinary boar of Europe, but those of the upper jaw
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
