A SMALL BREED OF PIGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3653, 30 March 1883, Page 4

A SMALL BREED OF PIGS.

An English contemporary speaking of a breed of pigmy porkers, three sows and a boar from Nepaul, on exhibition at the Zoological Gardens, London, says : — This species is so rare that since Hodson described these animals fifty years ago there has not been a single specimen obtainable in Europe, and even the museums have been unable to get more than a single skin. They are very small in size, scarcely bigger than a large wild rabbit; or probably a better idea of their size may be formed by giving their weight at seven or eight pounds each. They arc very active on their legs, running very swiftly, and they arc very shy. Their skins are well covered with short, reddish-brown hair, or rather bristles : they are very (dean feeders, and also very cleanly in their habits. Their flesh is esteemed very good for eating, and thus these interesting little porcines are naturally the subjects of other contemplations than their zoological rarity. If they can be bred in the Gardens the Society will find profitable results repay the price given for them by disposing of the first offspring to other menageries, and the acclimatisation

of the subsequent progeny would seem to be well worthy of attempt, as they might be kept seemingly without oiiensiveness in ti.e yards and gardens of domestic houses, and be fed upon potato parings, vegetables, and ./.-/'/•... of food. They are. very fond of rice, and will cat small portions of meat; but they will not touch the wash or greasy matters commonly given to ordinary pigs.