CHAPTER III.

ARTIODACTYLA--THE PIG OR HOG FAMILY.

Introductory Remarks on the Artiodactyla--Character of their Feet--The Wanting Digit--Comparison of the Bones of the Fore Feet of Representative Animals--Other Characters in the Artiodactyla--Classification--SUIDÆ, OR HOG FAMILY--Groups of the Family--Snout--Sense of Smell--Libels--Mention in the Bible--Among the Jews--Range--Teeth--THE WILD BOAR--General Features--Habits--Historical Mention--THE INDIAN HOG--Habits--A Wild Boar Hunt--A Noble Foe--THE DOMESTIC HOG--The “Irish Greyhound Pig”--Effects of Domestication--THE SOLID-HOOFED BREED OF PIGS--Description of the Bones of Foot--MASKED PIG--BUSH HOG--BABIRUSA--THE WART HOGS--ÆLIAN’S WART HOG--THE ETHIOPIAN WART HOG--PECCARIES--Habits--Dentition--Feet--Species--THE FOSSIL HOGS 335