L E T T E R XXXII.
TO TH E S AM E .
C a s t r a t i o n has a ftrange effect: it emafculates both man,
beaft, and bird, and brings them to a near refemblance of the other
fex. Thus eunuchs have fmooth unmufcular arms, thighs, and
legs; and broad hips, and beardlefs chins, and fqueaking voices.
Gelt-ftags and bucks have hornlefs heads, like hinds and does.
Thus wethers have fmall horns, like ewes; and oxen large bent
horns, and hoarfe voices when they low, like cows : for bulls have
Ihort ftraight horns; and though they mutter and grumble in a
deep tremendous tone, yet they low in a (hrill high key. Capons
have fmall combs and gills, and look pallid about the head, like-
pullets; they alfo walk without any parade, and hover chickens
like hens. Barrow-hogs have alfo fmall tuiks like fows.
Thus far it is plain that the deprivation of mafculine vigour puts
a flop to the growth of thofe parts- or appendages that are looked
upon as it’s infignia. But the ingenious Mr. Lijle, in his book on
huibandry, carries it much farther; for he fays that the lofs o f
thofe infignia alone has fometimes a ftrange effedt on the ability
itfelf; he had a boar fo fierce- and venereous, that, to prevent
mifchief, orders were given for his tuiks to be broken off".. No,
fooner had the beaft fuffered this injury than his powers forfook
him, and he negle&ed thofe females to whom before he was
paffionately attached, and from whom no fences could reftrain
111m.
L E T T E R XXXIII.
TO TH E S A M E .
T h e natural term of an hog’s life is little known, and the reafon
is plain— becaufe it is neither profitable nor convenient to keep
that turbulent animal to the full extent of it's time : however, my
neighbour, a man of fubftgnce, who had no occafion to ftudy every
little advantage to a nicety, kept an half bred Bantam-fow, who
was as thick as ihe was long, and whofe belly fvvept on the ground
till ihe was advanced to her feventeenth year j at which period ihe
ihewed fome tokens of age by the decay of her teeth and the decline
of her fertility.
For about ten years this prolific mother produced two litters in
the year of about ten at a time, and once above twenty at a litter;
but, as there were near double the number of pigs, to that of teats
many died. From long experience in the world this female was
grown very fagacious and art f i i lwhen ihe found occafion to
converfe with a boar ihe ufed to open all the intervening gates, and
march, by herfelf, up to a diftant farm where one was kept; and
when her purpofe was ferved would return by the fame means.
At the age of about fifteen her litters began to be reduced to four
or five; and fuch a litter ihe exhibited when in her fatting-pen.
She proved, when fat, good bacon, juicy, and tender; the rind,
or fward, was remarkably thin. At a moderate computation ihe