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Show ..I, LETTER FROM PROF. J. REINHARDT. [Jail. -8, lent friend Dr. Gray has communicated to the ' Proceedings' of the Society for 1868 there are two on which I beg leave to write a few observations, which I should wish you to communicate to the Zoological Society. " In his ' Synopsis of the Species of Pigs,' Dr. Gray remarks that, according to .Marcgrave's statement, Potamochcerus porcus was in his time imported by the negroes, and naturalized in Brazil; and then adds that having on all his inquiries received the answer (which, by the way, was perfectly correct) that this Pig is at present kept nowhere in Brazil, he must suppose that it ' has not been found profitable, or was not fitted for the American climate, as the breeding of it has been discontinued' *. As far as I have been able to learn, the Potamochcerus porcus has not been domesticated anywhere in its native country, West Africa. If this Pig, accordingly, can be considered identical with the one described by Marcgrave by the name of Porcus guineensis (and in that point Dr. Gray is certainly right), and if further it really was the case that the Pig of Marcgrave at his time was domesticated in Brazil, we should here have an instance of an animal having been brought in a wild state from one part of the world to another, and of its having been made a domestic animal there. Now this would certainly be an interesting case, which would deserve considerable attention ; but on that account there is also so much reason to examine accurately whether such is really the meaning of Marcgrave's words; and when we do so I think it will appear that a misunderstanding has taken place. For Marcgrave does not state at all in plain terms that his Porcus guineensis is kept as a domesticated animal anywhere in Brazil. He begins his description of it in the following way :-' Porcus guineensis fyc. e Guinea Braziliam translatusi But in these words he has certainly never thought of saying that his Pig was a domestic animal, but only that in Brazil he had seen such a Pig, brought thither from Africa and being quite tame-that is to say, doing no harm, but being of a placid, inoffensive nature. He might, indeed, have occasion to point out these qualities distinctly, especially as contrasting with the well-known fierce and headstrong character of the European Wild Boars. And that Marcgrave's words really may be justly applied to the said African Pig, we have a further proof in a description of the establishments (formerly Danish) on the Gold Coastf, in which it is especially remarked that the hunting of the Red and Black Boars of this place is without danger, that these Pigs do not show the least inclination to attack their pursuers -nay, that they do not turn upon them when wounded. That Marcgrave should have had an opportunity of seeing such a Potamochcerus parous in Brazil, even though it has never been domesticated there, ought not to surprise us ; and more especially it is no more startling than that he also had an opportunity of seeing there, and of sketching, several African Monkeys. It is easily explained when we remember that Prince Maurice of Nassau, in whose * P. Z. S. 1868, p. 37. t Mourad, II. C , ' Bidrag til en Skildring af Guinea-Kysten.' Kjobenbavn. |
