THE LEARNED PIG.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 316, 29 July 1879, Page 2

THE LEARNED PIG.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail.

Sib, Mr Toomer, gamekeeper to Sir Henry Mildmay, bethought him of teaching a pig to act aB a pointer, having been struck by the scenting powers of the animal in search of, palatable roots undergroundHe began by allowing a young female pig to accompany his pointers in their breaking lessons to the field. Within a fortnight, to his surprise, she was able to hunt and point partridges • and rabbits, there' : being an abundance of these creatures near the keeper's lodge. Her education advanced lapidly by frequent exercise, and in a few weeks she was able to retrieve game as well as the best pointer. Slut, as this extraordinary animal was called, was considered to have more acute scent than any pointer in the charge of the keeper; and it was a kennel, of' the highest character ; they hunted principally on moors and heaths, and it often happened that when left behind she would come of her own accord and join the pointers. Sho has often stood, says Daniel, a jack snipe, when all the pointers had passed it She would back the dogs when they pointed,' but the dogs refused to back her until spoke to. Toomer's dogs being all trained to make a general halt when the word was given, whether any dog pointed or not, so that she has been frequently standing in the midst of a field of pointers. In consequence of the dog 3 being not much inclined to hunt when she was with them (for they dropped their sterns, and showed symptoms of jealousy) she did not very often accompany them, except for the novelty. Her pace was mostly a trot j she would then come home off. the forest at full stretch, and bo as much elated as a dog at being shewn a gun. She;-aLwai[S' expressed great pleasure when .game, either dead or living was placed before her. She has frequently stood .a" single pheasant at forty yards distance, her nose in a direct line to the bird's; after stand-r ing. some considerable time she would drop like a_setter, still keeping her nose in the right direction, and would continue in' that position till the game moved. If ittook wing she would come up to the place and draw slowly after it, and when the bird dropped she would stand it as before. Now, Mr Editor, I think if some of the Akaroa sportsmen, when, to try tbs pig as a pointer instead of dogs, it would be better for the settlers on whose land they, trespass, and better for themselves because it even licks H. B. to make anything but the orthodox Cockney of them ; if they fire at a pheasant they are nearly sure to hit a cow, and make the.feathers fly.-They. would save ten bob in registration, and if they did happen to shoot, the pig "they would have some bacon for-the winter. Yours, truly,' A COCKEY SPORTSMAN.