to receive amusement from my brother and I running set matches with our steeds, which were determined in the usual manner, with whip and spur; and in this latter management there was no such thing as bolting or tumbling going on, which occurred frequently during the training season. This system however, came at length to my father's ears, for one or two of the racers happening to die in consequence of too severe heats, or too much weight: when we were immediately disbanded from our office, and (our holidays being expired) ordered off to school again, which we set about with as much reluctance as we did the first morning in driving the hundred swine to the clover-field." (Henderson's Practical Grazier.)
The learned pig is another illustration of this same quality. This creature had been taught to pick up letters, written upon pieces of card, at command, and arrange them into words. It was first exhibited in the vicinity of Pall-Mall, in 1789, at 5s. each person. The price of admission was afterwards reduced to 2s. 6d., and finally to 1s..
The showman stated that he had lost three hogs in the course of training. Since then there have been many successors of the "learned pig" exhibited at different places, but none equal in talent to the original.
The next thing which we shall claim for our porcine clients is sagacity; nor are we here in want of illustrative evidences of their possession of it. But in general there is nothing in the life of a hog, in his domesticated state at least, which calls for any exercise of reasoning powers. His sole business is to eat, drink, sleep, and get fat; all his wants are anticipated, and his world is limited to the precincts of his sty or of the farm-yard. Yet even in this state of luxurious ease, individuals have shown extraordinary intelligence.
Mr. Craven, relates the following anecdote of an American sow: "This animal passed her days in the woods, with a numerous litter of pigs, but returning regularly to the house in the evening, to share with her family a substantial supper. One of her pigs was, however, quietly slipt away to be roasted; in a day or two afterwards another; and then a third. It would appear that this careful mother knew the number of her offspring, and missed those that were taken from her, for after this she came alone to her evening meal. This occurring repeatedly, she was watched out of the wood, and observed to drive back her pigs from its extremity, grunting, with much earnestness, in a manner so intelligible, that they retired at her command, and waited patiently for her return.
Surely this must be the result of something very like reasoning powers? "A gentleman residing at Caversham bought two pigs at Reading market, which were conveyed to his house in a sack, and turned into his yard, which lies on the banks of the river Thames.
"The next morning the pigs were missing. A hue and cry was
