The difference betweene the male, and the female. Chap. 56. (Book 56)
ALthough some hunters holde opinion, that there is small iudgement to be taken of the difference betweene male and female, being yong swyne that yet do keepe the soun∣der: Yet haue I obserued diuers differences in my time, where∣by you may knowe the male from the female, yea were they but pigges of a yeare olde following the dammes, whereof I will shewe myne opinion in this sort. The male pigges following the damme, doe commonly scatter further abroade than the fe∣males doe, and will nouzle and turne vp the grounde tenne or twelue paces further of from their dammes than the females do, and that (thinke I) is bycause they are hardier than the females are, for they followe the damme as close as they can, and dare not scatter abroade as the males do. You may iudge them also by their gate, for euerie male pigge or hogge, goeth broder with his hinder legges than the female do: and commonly they set the tracke or print of the hinder foote, vpon the outer side of the print of the forefoote, by reason of the thicknesse that he beares betwene the thyghes more than the female, for the female is leaner be∣twene the legges, and goeth closer in hir gate. You may also knowe them by their gardes, for the male hath them commonly greater, and nearer to his heele than the female, whiche beareth them high, short, and loose, one being neare vnto an other, and therefore she striketh not hir gardes on the grounde so often as the male doth, yea though she doe, the print of them is but small