Santharian Development

Almost done! Just a little fable to write. And a preemptive apology for the length of this entry, Arti, I got carried away. But I guess that is what happens when you spend an eternity on a bestiary entry. :P

Overview
The Hogling goes by an assortment of names; Tug, Hobbit Pig, Draft-Swine, Shire Shoat, Hobquon, Riding Pig, Lín'rhaem'quón (Styrásh 'Hobbit Pig' or 'Little-Folk Pig') and of course Hogling. It is every bit like its namesake, the halfling; short, hairy and rather round. In the world of pigs, it would most probably pass as the cutest of them all, mainly due to its miniature size. But for this hog, size definitely doesn’t matter, as it quite strong and is used frequently by hobbits to pull heavy weights. Another surprise this pig holds is its speed. For such a hefty animal, their speed is quite remarkable, allowing them to become quite popular in the Hogling races. They are found almost entirely around the halfling shires, for they too are ‘halflings’. Standing at a much shorter height than other domestic pigs they are much more manageable for the shorter folk, and their cute looks and curly tails delight many of the younger hobbitlings.

Appearance
From a distance, it would be hard to recognise the Hogling different to any other domestic pig, however, up close the difference are numerous, most notably being its size. Standing at a bit over one fore and one palmspan if on a boar's legs, while the sows are generally slightly shorter at a little bit below one fore and one palmspan, the Hogling is much shorter than most other domestic pigs, and indeed most domestic animals. This size is the main reason that the pig is farmed, among other things, by the hobbits, as some other breeds of pigs can grow taller than some of the smaller hobbits. They much prefer the Hogling being only half their size, making it perfect petting height. Were a Hogling to stand upright on its hindlegs, however, it would likely tower over any halfling, with a body length of approximately a ped.

Another aspect of the Hogling that it shares with its counterpart the halfings is its rounded body. While many farm animals become bloated from the sheer amount of grass they eat, especially when the pasture is green, the Hogling is something else. Its barrel-chested body extends not only outwards, like in many farm animals, but also downwards, very much downwards, often leaving the pig weighing around fifteen heb. Some rather spoilt Hoglings have been known to have their belly dragging along the ground. It is this belly that is the pigs most defining feature, apart of course from its size. It is also thought among some, usually not hobbitish themselves, to be the reason hobbits adore them so.

The Hogling's foot, or trotter, as with all pigs, is an unusually body part, compared to many animals, but is also similar to some of the more common farm animals. It has two main two, situated in the middle, and two much smaller ones on the outside of the foot, much further back. These feet are attached to the pig's body with four short, often knobbly-kneed, legs. The back two of these legs extend backwards from the body, and then bend at the knee to point forwards, while the front to are more or less straight, and often slightly longer. All four of these legs, though, are very meaty, following suit with the rest of the pig's body.

A pig’s snout is probably one of its most defining features, it being such a unique appendage. Extending from the end of the Hogling’s face is this leathery pad. Being one of the very few places on the pig’s body without hair is only the beginnings of its remarkableness. To the Hogling, its snout is incredibly important, especially when it comes to food. Not only does its amazing sense of smell help it find food, but the Hogling also uses its snout dig around in the foliage and dirt to get the food. To aid in this foraging, the pig is able to move its snout rather a lot.

At the end of the Hogling's back protrudes a little tail. It is rather common for this tail to have a single twist, creating a loop, though some Hoglings may have straight tails, while other may have two twists in their tail. The tails with a double twist are deemed the most adorable by the hobbitlings, followed by the single twist. When bearing the rare double twist, the tail always hangs without touching the body, but a tail with a single twist or none at all would likely rest against the body, with a curled ones usually falling to one side. Less commonly, a tail without a twist may remain raised, curving to touch the pigs back. These tails are usually quite thin, around a nailsbreadth in thickness, and most commonly reach a length of two palmspans, though twists can often make this deceiving. Most hobbits believe that a Hogling with a double-twisted tail is superiorly bred, and so often fetch the most money as a stud boar.

A rather novel feature of the Hogling is it's similar signs of aging to a hobbit. The earliest of these is the size of the pig's stomach, as the pig, like a hobbit, grows into this fuller belly. This increase in the pig's midriff is more a sign of maturity, rather than a sign of the pig's aging. As the pig grows more elderly, however, more signs appear. The pig's skin starts to loosen and wrinkle, especially around the legs and face. The latter of these often manages to coax a giggle out of the little hobbitlings as they compare the elderly pig's face to a neighbour or family member. Towards the end of the pig's life, the skin above the eyes can sag so much that is covers the Hogling's eyes, making navigation a bit difficult. The final sign of age in a Hogling is the loss of colour in its hair, only aiding the hobbitlings in the comparison with a greying hobbit.

Special Abilities
For such a small animal, it is rather surprising that the Hogling possesses considerable strength. Coupled with the large weight it is able to throw against something, the Hogling makes a respectable draught beast. Though the hobbithorse is a superior draft animal, due to its larger size, the Hogling is still a sturdy animal, able to pull heavy weights. For the hobbit pig farmers, it is far easier to use their Hogling as a draught beast rather than borrow a hobbithorse from another. They are able to pull ploughs and other heavy farm objects, with the right harnessing equipment, though carts filled with, say, barrels upon barrels of ale best be left to the hobbithorse. Apart from aiding it in being a draught animal, the Hogling's strength can help in many other ways, giving it many other uses. The most notable of these was the Hogling belonging to the rather quirky Tatterbrill Spurdowns, or Tat to his sparse friends, a reputable breeder of these pigs in his earlier years. Later in life the hobbit grew somewhat odd, some claiming him crazy, and he kept his Hogling, named Rufus, as a bodyguard. He claimed the pig was a better guardian than any dog, though this was never tested, as his paranoia seemed quite unfounded.

Aside from their adorable looks, the Hogling's speed is the reason the pig is so well loved among the hobbits. The pigs provide great entertainment for hobbits young and old, and for some good income as well. The annual 'Hog-Jockey Cup', held in the Dogodan shire, remains one of the most popular and biggest events in a hobbit's year. The piglets are usually faster than the older pigs, due mainly to their lack of both roundness and jockeys. The older pigs, however, are the main attraction of the races, with the piglets being seen more as entertainment for the hobbitlings. An adult racing Hogling usually runs half a stral in around two minutes, though in 1349 a.S. Elsie Swirlytail, a Hogling racing legend ran the same distance in one and a quarter minutes, by a wheely-watch's time, at the Hog-Jockey Cup, and this still remains the record today.

Like any pig, the Hogling has a remarkable sense of smell, especially useful for truphull snuffling. They depend on their snout, rather than their eyes, to find the all their food, and use it especially to hunt out the best food, as the strongest smelling is the best tasting, at least in their eyes. They look much like a dog when searching, snout to the ground, constantly sniffing, which results in an odd snorting noise that entertains all the little hobbitlings. While this sense of smell is amazing, compared to other domestic and wild breeds of pigs it is inferior.

As any hobbit could tell you, the Hogling is rather intelligent, said to rival a Kodael, or in fact any dog. They are quite trainable, being used as truphull snufflers, steeds, pets and, on the odd occasion, bodyguards. All one needs to train one of these pigs is some patience and a great deal of treats. This intelligence also aids the pig in finding food and avoiding predators, not that either of these are much of a problem if the pig is in the shire. The Hogling is also rather sensitive to the weather, somehow being able to sense climate changes. Farmers rely on their Hoglings to predict the weather for the day, allowing them to alter their schedule. Every morning, the hobbit will go out and check on the pigs, looking for signs of weather change, and after a quick message to any neighbours without a Hogling, decide on what to do for the day. Farmers have noticed that when bad weather, such as a storm, is coming the Hogling will act agitated, dig holes, seek shelter and some farmers insist their pigs stockpile food before a storm.

Territory
As a hobbit pig it is only right that the Hogling live in the same areas as the halflings. As a highly domesticated animal, bred almost exclusively by hobbits, the Hogling dwells in and around the three hobbit shires of Southern Sarvonia. They are most numerous in the Dogodan shire, due to the extensive hills they are able to graze in. With an ample layer of fat, the Hogling is able to survive quite comfortably from the most southern shire, Elenveran, to the most northern, Silvershire, though the Hoglings of that shire generally have more hair than others. There are also a few Hoglings owned by people of other races, though their numbers are small.

Habitat/Behaviour
The Hogling is a domestic pig, kept by hobbits, and as such usually live a life in relative comfort. Those kept for farming are likely to have free access to pastures to reduce the amount of supplementary feeding. The pigs would be enclosed in a yard, to prevent mishaps, and in or connecting to the yard there would likely be a barn for the pigs to sleep in and shelter from the weather. A sow, when close to birth and after, would be moved to a separate stall to protect the piglets, and in the cases of overly-protective mothers, protect the other pigs. This is usually much the same for racing pigs and sometimes truphull snufflers, as they sometimes double up as farmyard animals. Hobbits owning pet pigs, however, usually only have one, or two at the most, and so their habitat is somewhat different. Firstly the confines would likely be smaller and close to the house, to comfort the pig. This is the major problem with singular pigs, as they are a herd animal and get lonely when by themselves. Because of this, a pet Hogling needs attention and over time will often grow to act much like a dog, forming a bond with its owner.

Diet
Like their halfling counterparts, the Hogling has a hearty appetite, necessary to maintain their rounded bodies. Pigs in general are known to be undemanding eaters, and the Hogling is no different. Their diet predominantly consists of vegetation, from grass, bushes, trees, if they can reach the foliage, fruit, grains, berries and vegetables. Hobbit farmers must be careful to fence their garden well, for these pigs are unrelenting eaters and are prone to targeting the prized flowers. Grains are particularly useful for fattening a pig quickly, and so are ideal for young pigs. Grain-fed Hoglings are also said to have richer flavoured meat. While grains are the most common feed to enhance the Hogling’s taste, there are many other foods that are claimed to aid the meat’s flavour. Berries, for example, are said to lend their zest to the pig, and some farmers also claim that pigs that eat a lot of herbs can gain their flavour too. Many Hoglings also have a liking for the distinctive taste of hobbitweed, so cultivators of the plant must be wary. As well as plants, the Hogling also has a taste for fish, though other meats can be eaten in moderation, sometimes insects and occasionally even bark.  Because of their wide palate, the Hogling is the perfect way dispose of any household scraps. No Hogling, however, can survive on grass alone, and so they must be fed with other foods, even if it is only additional grain. Nor can they live only on meat, as a few farmers have tried.

Mating
The mating of the Hogling is an unusual and noisy experience. At the age of ten months a boar is sexually mature and able to mate, whereas a female need only be eight months old. A sow will come on heat every month, give or take a week, though the temperature can often affect this and rather brutal summers and winters can result in poor breeding. While it is possible for a sow to be mated at eight months of age, the piglets produced are likely to be smaller and even deformed, especially if the sow is bred with a young boar, and so they are often kept until they reach the age of a year.

There are several signs both a sow and boar will give suggesting that the sow is on heat, known also as hogging. The sow's genitalia will swell up and possible discharge, however a much more easily seen sign is the sow standing still and grunting and squealing, especially when near a boar. A boar will also nudge a sow that is on heat and sometimes will also froth at the mouth. While on heat, the sow will often become much lazier, preferring to lie down. Taking advantage of this, the boar often collects small amounts of food and places it in front of the sow to win her affection.

The actual mating of the pigs varies a lot for each pig and their environment. Some matings take mere minutes while other may last up to half an hour. When a sow is on heat the boar will mount the pig and lock onto her. The mating is aggressive, though in the longer cases the boar often lacks the energy to maintain this. It is almost impossible to separate the pigs during mating, though a splash of water over the head usually distracts them enough to pull them apart if that were desired. Throughout this whole mating process the boar will grunt and squeal, as too will the sow on odd occasions though she is much more likely to seem disinterested, sniffing the ground and even eating.

Roughly four months after the mating the sow will give birth to six to eight piglets, though litters of ten have been heard of. Sows are known to be extremely protective of their litters, whereas the boars resume their lazy lives. Any wise farmer would do well to keep their distance from the sow during the first few days after birthing, making prevention of tail irritation rather difficult. The sow will spend much of its time lying on its side so that her piglets may feed, though this shouldn't fool you into thinking it isn't wary. While the Hogling is protective mother, compared to its cousin the domestic pig it is rather placid. The piglets are bigger than their cousins the domestic pig relative to their mother's size, though the Hogling piglets grow slightly slower than the their cousins and so their superior size doesn't last long. Once the piglets are one month old they are able to be separated from their mother and her milk to instead feed on solids and hence cease to be piglets, but rather weaners. If not separated from their mothers, the piglet will be weaned by their mothers themselves, though this will take longer. The mother sow will then be able to mate again when she is next on heat, though some farmers prefer to give the sow a break.

Myth/Lore/Origin
The hobbits definitely have more than their fair share of sayings and idioms, a few of which refer to the Hogling. The first of these, ‘a Hogling’s gift’, is an expression meaning a present given by a hobbit with the intention to charm a sweetheart. This relates to the tendency of male Hoglings to shower their chosen partner with gifts of food.

Similar to this saying, there is a second often used among the shires. When a young hobbit goes to an elder seeking advice on how to go about approaching the lass or lad of his or her choice, the hobbit may be met with the reply, 'think like a Hogling', implying that the hobbit should do something to please his or her darling, whether it be to give a material gift or a compliment.

A third saying one might hear from a hobbit’s mouth again refers to the Hogling’s gift giving. A hobbit who overdoes the 'Hogling-thinking' is one who persists with his advances while it's obvious to everyone but himself that the subject of his affection is not interested. This hobbit may then be given the advice ‘stop shoving Hogling hoards into her face’.

The origins of this pig is not known for sure, yet there are a few tales floating around the shires on this subject. Some hobbits say that the pig is simply bred from the normal domestic pig, many of these claiming this done by their great great great uncle's fourth cousin thrice removed, or some other similar relation. Another common theory is that the Hogling is related to the stripped kara, a southerner pig of an even smaller stature than the Hogling. It is thought that a rather adventurous hobbit brought one of these stripped pigs back to his shire, and after breeding it with domestic pigs, the Hogling eventually emerged. This is certainly supported by the occasional multicoloured pig, with this mixture of colours usual showing itself as a coloured band, or stripe, around the torso.

As any hobbit could tell you, the fables of XXX nearly always had characters who were animals, often able to speak. The Hogling was an animal often used by XXX in his fables, most notable of these being 'The Three Troublesome Pigs', a tale known by heart since an early age by every hobbitling, teaching them the moral that cheeky hobbitlings always end up getting their comeuppance.

<Insert fable here>

Researchers
Ebeneber 'Benny' Tricklebrook, born 1583 a.S., being a farmer and author of a guide to farming, knows quite a lot about Hoglings, and indeed any other animal farmed by hobbits. Since he was a young hobbitling, Benny always knew he would be a farmer, just like his many fore fathers stretching back to his great great great great grandfather, Longborst 'Logie' Tricklebrook. He had always loved animals, especially fond of petting the two little Hobytla Coneys they kept in a hutch. And so when he aged, and inherited the farm from his father he continued the farming, steadily growing as they always had. He married a nice hobbit lass, Camellia Hayward, who was the daughter of a Racing-Hogling breeder of good reputation. When her father grew too old to manage his stud, he passed it on to Benny.

With now over double the lands he had once owned, Benny expanded his livestock, bringing in new animals. He was known through much of the shire as an excellent farmer, and, after some encouragement from his friends and wife, he agreed to share his knowledge with his fellow hobbits. So he started writing his book, starting by compiling a list of every fact and tip he could think of about any animal he owned, which happened to be almost any type of animal found in the shire. It took him two years to finish, as it grew from a simply helping his friends to a guide for any farmer, and so he went to others for help. Once finished the book spread around the shire like wildfire, and after word spread, to the other shires as well.

Benny became famous among all hobbit farmers as possibly the best farmer alive, some often claiming him being blessed by Odelve himself. His research of the Hogling was rather easy, due to his acquired Hogling stud. His wife also put him in contact with some other breeders, who gave him additional information on the pig. Now, at the ripe old age of 86, Benny lives on his farm with his wife and children. His children now tend the farms, with his daughter head of the Hogling stud and his son in charge of the original farm. And they too promise to be a talented farmers, having learnt from the master.

Usages
The Hogling is known to have a few main usages, however the hobbits, being a thrifty folk, are constantly finding new uses for the pig. Obviously, the main use of this pig is for the food it provides. A party would not be complete without a finely roasted Hogling. It is a true compliment to all guests if such a pig were served whole after hours over a spit, due to the sheer amount of effort and time in preparing and cooking the succulent pig. Nearly every part of the pig can be eaten, by hobbits at least. Sausages, bacon, pork and ham are taken from the pig meat, and the skin can also be eaten after being fried. The feet of the pig, known as trotters, when cook slowly for a long time, are also said to be a delectable treat, and the pig's ears are often given to dogs as a treat. When cooked correctly, the pig's head can be used to create a preserve known as pig cheese, and this is rather popular served with pork. And finally the offal is also often eaten, or fed to dogs. After the hobbits are done, there is usually barely anything left of the pig.

Being particularly hairy pigs, the Hogling’s hair has a variety of uses. They can be used in brushes of all kinds, especially paintbrushes, as their hair is slightly softer than most other domestic pigs'. Paintbrushes made of Hogling hair, especially from around the ears, are said to give a smooth brushstroke because of their softness and so are quite popular among the Bardavos artisans. However, for other brushes, such as hairbrushes, coarser hair is preferred, which can be found on the Hogling’s back, running along its spine. This line of hair is easily noticeable as it is more plentiful there than the rest of the pig and rises when the pig is happy or scared.

The hobbits are famous for their parties and feasts, and while the Hogling could add magnificently to the feast aspect, they can also benefit to parties. Hoglings, being rather fast for such a rotund animal, have become part of a quite large tradition known as pig racing. Pig racing makes a great party game, but this tradition has grown in the hobbit shires, and now pig racing is also a separate activity from parties. The pigs, when young, are raced by themselves, but when the pigs are bigger they are raced along a track, with a jockey on their back. Pig racing has become a rather large event, and there are now pig breeders, trainers, jockeys and pigs themselves who work as racing pigs. There is often prize money involved with the racing and betting is also popular at the races. The largest, and most prized event of all the races is the annual 'Hog-Jockey Cup' of the Dogodan shire, where the best pigs from all shires are raced against each other and the winner takes home the golden trophy, as well as a sizeable amount prize money.

The Hogling is again useful as a draught animal, owing to their considerable strength and their large weight to throw around. While the hobbithorse is more adept in this area, due to its larger size, the Hogling is still able to hold its own as a draught animal. Its major flaw in this area is its laziness. Farmers often find that their Hogling won't pull what they ask simply because it doesn't want to. The Hogling would usually much rather sleep or eat, and so farmers often have to tempt the Hogling along with some edible treats.

Truphulls are extremely coveted among the hobbit cooks, and due to their usual exorbitant price, these hobbits prefer not to buy truphulls. As such, they must instead find the truphulls for themselves. Hobbit Truphull Snufflers, as they are known, generally use the Hogling to aid in their hunting for truphulls, for the pigs are attracted to the pungent smell of the fungus. The Hogling is easier to manage for halflings and they need not worry as much about taking the truphull from the pig, however, due to increased domestication, the Hogling has a inferior sense of smell compared to most other domestic and wild pig breeds. This lessened smell makes hunting for truphulls harder for the Hogling, and so recently the Milo Pott terrier has been used instead of the pigs, at the penalty of the dogs behaviour.

Some Hoglings are kept by hobbits solely as pets. Their adorable looks and intelligence makes them ideal pets, though their size can get a bit out of hand. Their intelligence is rather remarkable, and as such they can actually be trained as a dog would. The Hogling is definitely an outside pet, as their size, in comparison to hobbits and their homes, and their somewhat destructive nature makes keeping a pig indoor a regrettable action. As piglets they are able to be kept indoors and in some cases house trained, but when they grow their owners usually transfer them into a pen outside. As piglets, the Hogling is especially cute, and hobbits are often prone to picking the piglets up for cuddles. However, most Hoglings are fearful of being picked up, and will be distressed until they feel the ground under their feet again.

Care
Hoglings are known to be rather docile animals, making caring for them much easier than most pigs, and indeed most farm animals. While very little care is needed for these pigs, there is quite a lot of optional care that can make the pig a lot happier and healthier. The following is an excerpt from ‘Farmer Benny’s Guide To Farming’ on the care of Hoglings.

To care for a Hogling all you need do is provide it water for both drinking and bathing, food and a grassy area, that will sooner or later be mud. However, for the avid farmer, breeder, racer or pet owner, there is much more you can do. The Hogling’s skin is rather tough, and naturally dry. It is not necessary to bathe your pig regularly, but rather provide and area for them to bathe if they wish. In summer, some pigs enjoy the occasional dousing of water, and this should also be used to treat Hot Hog, but except for these cases, you should refrain from bathing your pig. Mud is a much better solution, and should be used instead of water if viable. I know a few Hobbits who give their pigs a ‘mud-massage’, which they claim stops the skin getting oily.

Because of their tough skin, your pig is very unlikely to suffer from fleas or ticks. If your pig is young, however, they are at risk to both of these pests. Their skin is much softer at a young age, allowing fleas or ticks to bite them. When the pigs age and their skin toughens fleas can no longer bite through their skin, though ticks still have a chance. In such areas as around the ears, under the legs and on the belly, the skin is softer there, and so these places should be checked periodically for ticks. There are a few cures for fleas and ticks, but the most common is wash the pig with soap. While this isn’t good for their skin, it is the surest way to get rid of them. I have also heard of vinegar in the pig's water working, garlic in their food is said to as well, and I have even heard that a bowl of water with a lit candle in the middle kills them. If left with the pig overnight, the fleas jump into the water and die. As for ticks, you can remove them by pressing something hot against them or simply removing them. The place were the tick was should have a slight indentation, else the ticks head is still in the pig, and this head is able to burrow deeper.

Hoglings are known to be rather hairy animals, and once a year you Hogling will shed this hair. While shedding it will become very itchy, scratching against trees, posts, other pigs and whatever else is around. Once the pig starts shedding, you can help it along by brushing the pig; you could even use a brush made from Hogling hair. If you don't have a brush, or your pig finds grooming objectionable, which is sometime the case, you can simply give if a good scratch every so often. Apart from when shedding, your Hogling won't need to be groomed, though some racers groom their pig daily, and some pigs also enjoy it. People often collect the hair from Hoglings, as it has many uses, and so you may do so if you wish.

There are several things you can do for your boar to make his life better, as well as his productivity. Firstly, I have noticed that boars, if not allowed to interact with other pigs before aging a year, often perform badly in mating. Pigs are very sociable animals, living in herds, and so interaction is a must. But this can present a problem for the boars and the other pigs around them. Though rather small, a male Hogling's tusks still protrude from the mouth and so they present the possibility of injuring another pig, whether accidental or purposefully. While I myself do not practice this, some farmers remove these tusks. It is a difficult and arduous process, where the boar's mouth is opened by one hobbit, while another saws the tusk off so that they no longer protrude from the mouth. With this, there is the possibility of creating sharp points inside the boar's mouth, and it may cut itself. I believe de-tusking isn't necessary, as long as you have docile boars and spread feed out, as this is when a lot of pushing and shoving occurs. Most importantly for your whole herd, you must keep you boar free from ailments, as he has the biggest effect on the whole herd. And occasional addition of sunseed oil to the boars feed, say one or two sips, should help with this.

Sows are generally easier to care for than boars, thankfully as these females are in plentiful supply. They should of course always be well fed to maintain a nice condition. Ribs should definitely not show, but you must be careful not to over feed your pigs, as this can cause birthing problems. You can tell whether or not your sows are in good condition by the amount of fat on their legs, as there should be little on its knees. After being mated, a sow should be as calm as possible, and when she starts to grow even more rotund because of her piglets, about a month into pregnancy, additional food should be given to her. This extra feed should continue until weaning. When very close to birthing, also known as farrowing, I would recommend you feed your sow with some bark from the womblose tree, or birthbark. Even when in perfect condition, a Hogling is likely to experience birthing problems, raging from the minor, tail first births, to the major, extended time between piglets which can cause damage or death to both the sow and piglets. You can tell when you sow is nearing her birthing, as a few days before she will build a nest, by pushing hay, straw or anything else soft enough, into a pile.

Occasionally, newborn piglets can experience some problems. If possible, you should check their mouth is clear so they can breath and make sure they feed as soon as possible after birth. When sows take rather long between piglets, the eventually-birthed piglet may be born in a stupor. It will seem dead, however, it is possible to revive them, but this must be done promptly. Clear the mouth and nose, as you would with any piglet, and grab it by its hind legs and swing it around at arms length, careful not to hurt the pig. At regular intervals of this swinging you can hold the piglets mouth shut and blow into its snout. If the piglet is revived, though often this is simply not the case, ensure it feeds from the sow immediately. Luckily, this stupor often happens to the larger piglets, as they are harder to birth, and so they are more likely to survive, being stronger animals.

When younger, the Hogling requires more attention than one of more years. Piglets are at their most vulnerable in their first weeks of life and so you must do all that you can to keep them warm. Warmth is incredibly important for piglets, yet it is rather hard to ensure this for the piglets. However, if you keep the piglets out of the wind in a pen and try and keep them close to their mothers. You should also remember, there is nothing better to warm a piglet up than a good mouthful of warm milk. Occasionally, especially in large litters, a piglet will be rejected by its mother, this usually happening to the runt of the litter. It is possible to save the piglet, with a bit of work. There are two methods of doing this, fostering the piglet to another sow or fostering it yourself. For the first, it is easier if another sow has had a piglet die. You can then rub a bit of the dead piglets blood on the orphan and the sow should adopt the piglet. If this is not possible, it is best to pick a sow with a small litter or an especially good mother. Then you must simply hold the piglet on the sow's teat regularly until it is adopted. This often fails much more than the other method and some sows protest rather a lot if a piglet not from their litter feeds from them. If you wish to foster the piglet yourself then you must feed it milk, preferably from a Hogling though milk from other animals can also work. To do this get a bladder and poke a hole in it to create a teat. While it make take some time, the piglet should eventually get used to feeding from this, but if this takes too long I'd suggest heating the milk slightly, to make it seem more natural.

Weaning a Hogling is a rather easy experience. When the piglet ages a month you can simply separate it from its mother, in another paddock or temporarily fence a pasture into two. Hoglings sometimes suffer from diarrhoea when being weaned because of the change from milk to grass, but there is nothing you can do to prevent this or cure it, you must simply wait for it to pass. Though there is much I have written about the tending of your Hogling, a lot of this is basic animal tending. The Hogling is a relatively low maintenance breed, especially if you do only what is necessary.

Ailments
The Hogling is prone to a few ailments, much to the dismay of farmers. However, most ailments are easily curable with a little bit of knowledge. Again, Farmer Benny explains the treatment of these diseases in his book.

Having curly tails the Hogling often delights many hobbitlings, but this is also sometimes the case for piglets. The piglets often chew each other’s tails, which can then lead to the tail becoming irritated. This ailment is rather negligible, but it can be very annoying for the piglet. If the irritation is especially bad, the piglet may lose interest in food, though this is rare. To stop this, rub a paste on all of the piglets' tails to stop the chewing. The paste must contain mintnue, as the piglets dislike its strong taste. It is best if this paste is applied liberally two or three days after birth. If the tail is already irritated, still apply the ointment to prevent further chewing, but aside from that there is nothing you can do except keep an eye on the piglet.

These pigs are also known to suffer from Greasy Pig. This ailment first shows signs with greasy and oily skin, and can later lead to warts and even death. Pigs rolling in ‘bad mud’ are likely to soon contract this disease. The mud for this pig is best taken directly from a paddock, as mud from such places as a riverbank is known by hogherders as ‘bad mud’ and leads to Greasy Pig. A few farmers have also added meadow weed to the pigs feed and insist that this prevents the disease. In the case of death the meat of this pig is then tainted and should not be eaten.

A final ailment of these pigs, very common in the summer months, is Hot Hog. It is much more minor than the prior. This ailment is caused by too much contact with sunlight. As this breed of pig has more fat and hair than others, it can only stay in the sun’s rays for a shorter time, and thoroughly enjoys a mud-bath. A pig suffering this would most likely refrain from eating as much, and hence lose condition, drink much larger amounts of water, then leading it to becoming bloated, as well as suffer from trembling, rashes, tiredness, and in extreme cases vomiting. These can all be cured with a dousing of cold water, twice a day for two to three days. After that time the pig should have recovered and regained its appetite. In the case of becoming bloated the usual treatment of a mouth full of sunseed oil should cure the pig. If left untreated, the Hogling may die, and, for some reason unknown, the meat of the pig gains a peculiar taste, making it nearly unusable. There is however one way to use the meat; if you have a good sausage receipt then that can usually cover the odd taste, though a little more flavouring may be needed. These sausages, known as hot hog sausages, or simply hot hogs, go great with some freshly baked bread and a sauce of your choice.

---

A list unwritten entries referenced in this entry:
- Hogling Racing and the annual Hog-Jockey Cup
- Tatterbrill Spurdowns, the quirky pig breeder who kept a pig as a bodyguard
- Rufus, his pig and bodyguard (Can we have animal people entries? If not, he'll probably be in Tatterbrill's entry)
- Elsie Swirlytail, the famous racing pig which holds the racing record. (Maybe in the races entry or under the jockey)
- The Milo Pott, or milo, terrier, a Jack Russell equivalent, maybe more docile, originally breed by a hobbit
- Ebeneber 'Benny' Tricklebrook, a farmer and farmyard animal researcher, especially animals hobbits use
- Farmer Benny's Guide To Farming, just explaining the book or maybe in his person entry
- Mintnue, a mint equivalent, but probably with a lot of differences, the name can change as well
- The Elenveran shire, but that has been referenced in a lot more places.

Hey Mannix. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I'm sure I've heard about this pig somewhere before ;)

Perhaps in the special abilities you could mention it's strength, making it a good draft animal. And it's speed makes it ideal for the annual 'Hog-Jockey Cup' race meeting?

So far, so good.

EDIT: How about Draft-Hog. Or just plain Tug?

Yep, strange that. ;)And I'm definitely going to add that to the special abilities Thar. Oh, and a race, sounds like a good idea. And finally, as for the name, I do like Tug. I'll use it, but I don't think it will be the main name. But I am still incredibly grateful Thar. :)

Mannix

Okay, I'm going to stop being lazy and write some entries again. So this is just a bump so it is easier to work on, and if anyone would care, to allow perusal. I have added another section, care, for the same reasons as disease.If anyone one thinks this is too umm... modern maybe, do tell. Oh, and I'll write it better once I have all the information down. I'm also not sure if we have Santharian ticks or fleas, so if you know that would help.

Mannix

Bell-ring/PM me when you have completed all the sections and I will happily oblige to give all the comments you want  :grin:

Oh and with regards to ticks/fleas, I'm sure we have them, and if we don't, you can reference them anyway :grin:

Deci

This looks like a fun little entry, Mannix.  We already have a Hobbit Pony, so now we can have a Hobbit Pig to go along with it.  It sounds a bit like those little pot-bellied pigs that are bred as pets, is that what it's based on?

Re: ticks and fleas.  I'm sure hobbit farmers would have some dips and the like to get rid of bugs.  They're fairly conscientious that way, aren't they?  Perhaps you could reference a "hog dip" made from some sort of strong smelling plant (cedar oil, citrus, and catnip are all RL bug repellents, so I'm sure you can find something that the hobbits could use.

Alysse

Thanks guys. I'm thinking with this pig that the hobbits would obviously have them in herds and farm them like any other farm animal, but also give them other uses. As Thar mentioned above, racing will happen, which will make great party entertainment and excuses for parties, and also I think a few would be kept as pets since they're rather cute. But most of them will probably be farm animals. I see hobbits as being very slightly elvish in these sort of things. I believe they would seek to do more than necessary, merely because they have the time and it would make the meat better I guess. I'd guess they would have more leisure time, so why not have some hobby farmers?

Edit: Oh, and I was wondering if anyone could help me with an elvish name. Though I'd have to ask Wren, I believe the Elenveran hobbits interact with the Quael...however you spell that. The ones that live next to the hobbits. So they would probably have a name for the pig. Even if it is just in english, I just need an original name. As you can probably tell, I'm no good with names.

Mannix

(Judith strolls by the pen where the little Hoglet is looking up appealingly, humming to herself)

Mhhmmmmhhmmm boar-bristle hairbrushes hmmmmm la la greased pig races la la la mmmmmm smoked pork hocks for export hmmmmm...

Wow, the hobbits are going to have their own zoo with the Hobbit Pony, and your Hogling, and my Dodogan Pygmy Goat. :lol:

Well, then, SOMEONE had better write up the Hobytla Coney - a fat little dwarf rabbit which is good for pets/eating/fur lining on hobbit veskits / garden manure / and so on.....   ;)

  A Hobbit Pig! How fun is that.  I only wish I had thought of it, so I could enjoy elaborating on such a fun idea. I guess I'll have to settle with reading your finished entry.  Oh please hurry up, I can't wait! :P

One last question, do you think I could have one for a pet? Please! Just tell the Hobbits that I'll take extra good care. I'm sure they'll not be so selfish as to deny another such a wonderfull pet.


Mifer

Only is you promise to feed it every day. :grin:

  You got it! I promise.  Now gimme.

*grumbles and looks on curiously* Why would you want a pig for a pet? *sticks with the wolves and wargs*

Looks good so far Mannix, lookin' forward to the finished entry.

Are you kidding?  This specific pig is very strong for its size. This makes it a practical pet for several reasons. One being its possible use for industrial purposes, and another being it's potential to be overlooked as protection, which would render it capable of quite surprising any unwary attacker. Protection and industry, I see no better reasons for having a pet.  :P

Perhaps the hobbits can use this little fellow for Truphull hunting?  I think they'd have a hard time with the bigger pigs that are traditionally used by humans.  (Check out the Truphull entry in the Herbarium, under Fungi for more info.)


Alysse

Excellent idea Alysse. Will do.

Just a little bump to make working on this easier. And as well as that I have a question, probably for Garret. Is there a breed of dog especially known for its intelligence? I have had a look and found a few breeds that are said to be intelligent, but I was wondering if you knew of one in particular by chance. And don't worry if you don't, it is pretty specific and I don't think it is vital. If anyone else knows either, I'd love to hear. The breeds I have so far are: the Cattrel, the Kodael, the Voldon, the Eophyrhim Hunting Hound and the Zeiphyrian Hunting Hound. If any of you know one of these is especially intelligent, do tell. If not, I'll get over it. :grin:

Mannix

I'd say the Kodael out of the three of mine you have listed. Its meant to be a fairly intelligent dog as its known for being pretty cooperative and can be trained to do a wide array of things easier than most. If your looking for one that was meant to be pretty intelligent than I'd say that one, but possibly especially known for its intelligence. Rather its more known for its usefulness. Hope that helps a bit Mannix :).

Well, my Rimrunner Terrier is very intelligent as well, being part fox, so it might be a possible candidate as well.  It's a pretty small dog, though, and I don't know if you're looking for a larger one.  Another possibility might be a dog that is part Ashmari wolf, for those canines are quite smart as well.



Alysse

And here you go, three fat little hoglings in different hues.

Enjoy!

oooo... I love it!!  Now, where is that Big Bad Wolf?

Oh, that reminds me, thank you Garret and Alysse for the help with the dogs, I was just thinking of putting it in as a reference between the pig and dog, saying their intelligence is said to rival that of the intelligent breed of dog. Size doesn't really matter, so I guess it is a toss up between Kodael and Rimrunner. Hmm, I'll probably go with Kodael, as they are very popular throughout the kingdom and I know when I look at my working dog and my terriers, I would assume the working dog is more intelligent if I didn't know them, but in truth he's very dopey. But that's just him, a sheep dog scared of sheep. Thanks still Alysse, I'm still grateful. Sort of randomly though, there might be another terrier to join yours soon. ;)

Mannix

Ooo, cool!  I invented him mostly because all the dogs we had are these great big bruisers and I thought we should have some little dogs.  I'm toying with the idea of a lap dog for nobles, but I have so much on my plate right now...


Alysse

Don't forget the Rimrunner, Alysse!
And those pigs are, quite simply, adorable.

A little bump from the second page. I'm very close to finishing this, so it will remind me and make it easier for me to get at it. And if anyone wants to suggest anything, especially something for Myth/Lore, please do. I haven't really thought too much about that section yet.

Mannix

I've been gone for a while. (Let's say on vacation) I just wanted to stop in and let you know I've been treating my little hogling quite well. If ever there was a fat hogling this one's it! I still quite enjoy this entry.

Keep Dreaming,
Mifer

If you would like commentary, make it apparent by changing the Dev Icon

If not....GET BACK TO WORK  :whip:

Deci

Ouch. :P Yeah I'll try and get back to work. I've just been so busy recently I've struggled to even get online. But still thats no excuse for this taking so long.

Mannix

How charming this hog is!

Mannix, in case you're still looking for inspiration for the Lore section, a few ideas could derive from the mating ritual:

Maybe a present given with the intention to woo a sweetheart could be called a "hogling's gift"?

A young hobbit asking an elder for advice on how to go about approaching the lass/lad of his/her choice may hear the reply: "think like a hogling", implying that he/she should do something to please her/him, whether it be to give a material present or a compliment.

A hobbit who overdoes the "hogling-thinking", that is, one who persists with his advances while it's obvious to everyone but him that the object of his affection is not interested, could be said to "shove hogling hoards into her face".

They are awesome Shabby. :P You'll definitely see them in there. And I think this might be done pretty soon, I can feel it.

Edit: Oh, and I almost forgot. *Hands over an aura point*

Mannix

i know this is still work in progrees, but if i don't force myself to do something useful soon i'll fall off the edge of the map. i figured if i start by reading this through, skipping appearance and myth/lore sections, obviously, and put any comments i can think of then that'd atleast be a start/ :undecided: comments in yellow.

Thanks for the check Seth. All your comments are integrated, just look for the orange. And nope, pigs are about the only animal I don't have. :P Thanks again.

Edit: Oh, and, for anyone who cares, I added an attempt at an Easter Egg in there, so see if you can spot it. It's pretty easy.

Mannix

it can't be that easy, i couldnt find it. and if you've not kept pigs, then kudos on the massive amount of detail and research that's obviously gone into this. - aura boost for that. :)

Well maybe its not very good then. :P And thanks, an aura boost for you as well for the check. I always forget about that.

Mannix

Hi Mannix, I didn't know, that it is possible to write so much about a simple animal ;) I have not read it in its whole length, only some parts here and there. So I may have missed something you wrote already.

While doing this, I wondered, where from it came. Was it bred from the normal domestic pig (which itself must have had wild ancestors). Then I had an idea, looked to the appearance section and didn't find, what colour its coat has (I know Judy's pics, and there it is not as pinkish as the domestic pig).

Back to my idea: There is a very small pig in the Rahaz-Dath, half wild, partly domestic, the striped kara (http://www.santharia.com/pictures/quellion/milno_plant.htm). It has no entry yet, but I always imagined it to be even smaller than your Hogling. Maybe some clever hobbit farmer imported that tiny pig and bred from it - with others (grassland boar?) the hogling. Would be more a lore, I suppose. It has lost its stripes during the time, but now and then one may be born which shows a hint of those stripes?

Sounds like an idea Talia. :) Just give me a couple of days to think it through and read my entry to make sure there's nothing conflicting and then I can confirm it. But thanks for the idea, it has sparked my inspiration for that section again.

Mannix

Short note, Mannix: Especially at very lengthy entries we might consider also to split up the updating process - get the main thing up in an entry and add the rest that you're still working on next time. That is, if you're not planning on changing key passages of the entry and do only additions e.g. in Myth/Lore or something. So I don't know exactly if this applies here, but it's an option.

There are still some dates and names missing in this entry however, so these need to be added at any rate if we should start with putting it up in parts. Just a suggestion.

Well, I was thinking about trying to prepare this myself, Arti, if that helps. I wouldn't want you to have this extra work. I hoping to actually get this pretty much done this weekend. Yay! And yeah, names aren't my forte. But I'll make sure they're done before it's ready for comments.

Mannix

Hey Mannix,

If you want me to make up a few hobbit names, just say! Also, I've got a special interest in this piggy now, as I would be thrilled if the father of my hobbit-character-in-the-making over on the RP board could be a hogling farmer.

No pressure, though.  :rolleyes:

If you've got any suggestions please do yell out. I'm absolutely awful with names. It took me well over an hour to get the name for my last character.

And speaking of characters, that's fine with me. Congrats on the approvals for him as well. I'm definitely getting a character in the Thirsty Herald with him there.

Oh, and if anyone's still interested with this monumentally slow-moving entry, appearance is now done. Ooo, I'm so close my hands are shaking. :P

Mannix

One hour for a character name? That's quick, by my standards. Every single character name so far took me several days; I never went with the first idea.

Anyway, I can't sleep, so here are a few names. I won't be offended if you don't take all, or even if you don't take any. So here goes, according to your list at the end of the entry:

- VVV, the quirky pig breeder who kept a pig as a bodyguard:
Tatterbrill Klommbotch, or "Tat" to his friends

- WWW, his pig and bodyguard: Rufus the Wakeful

- XXX, the famous racing pig which holds the racing record: Elsie Swirlytail (or Ernie Swirlytail, if you prefer a male; but I thought a woman in the crowd would be nice, even if she's a hogling).

- Farmer ZZZ, a farmer and farmyard animal researcher: Ebeneber ("Benny") Tricklebrook

- his ancestor (mentioned in the entry): Longborst ("Logie") Tricklebrook

I'd like to bring this one up and suggest that it should be ready for someone who wants to complete it with Mannix last notes. He was online the last time April 25th 2009 and has entirely disappeared unfortunately for whatever reason. But as the entry is pretty much done anyway and it is referenced every now and then already, plus it is illustrated as well, so we should try to get this one finally up.

Sounds like a good job for an apprentice to practice on!

:whip:

Has somebody mailed him and asked about is whereabout?

Definitely. Already did this months ago.

May I make a suggestion?

I actually think that this entry is all but ready. Mannix has integrated all comments, as far as I can see, including a detailed uri-check from Seth. All he wanted to do was to add a fable, but since he is not here, I think the entry could be put on site without it? If Mannix returns, he can add any fables that he might then write.

I haven’t read the whole text in detail (again), but it seems to me that two small manipulations might be sufficient to make this entry a strong blarrow-candidate. Both suggested manipulations are in the “Myth/Lore/Origin” section:

(1) A small correction:


...are...

(2) Delete the paragraph that announces the fable.

That is, delete the following:



I would think that this is not too invasive a change? And in any case, it leaves Mannix the option to insert his fable when he returns, or even to write it up as a separate Library entry.

It's not even necessary to delete that last paragraph.  We have references in other entries to stories as yet unwritten... and since the reference gives the moral of the story, it's complete in and of itself.  Not every last noun, verb, and adjective need to be cross-linked and highlighted in blue, people....

In fact, we have colours, plants *cough* Eur'Oak *cough*, items, and even tribes that are mentioned but don't have their own separate entry...yet.... that's half the fun of doing research here! 

D'accord, but we can't have XXX as the fabulist's name.

Looking over which of my name suggestions for other characters Mannix has adopted, and which he has instead adapted, and trying to distil the principle of his taste from that, may I suggest the fabulist to be named:

Bertledink ("Dinkie") Posywell  ?


[In very obligue homage to two terran fabulists: Aesop (whose name approximately spells "posy" backwards), and that foremost critic of pigs, G. Orwell.]

Bravo, bravo!  (applauds with a delighted grin)

Might it not then even be (the bard shuffles her feet and letters abashedly)

Ortledink 'Dinkie' Posywell? 

Or is that just too obvious?  (bats lashes)

At any rate, an elegant solution, and it is to be hoped one which will allow our hoglings to enter the compendiums with snouts held high...

Oh yeah, how stupid of me. Bertledink was Ortledink's brother, of course, and not famous for anything. I always get those two mixed up.

So Ortledink "Dinkie" Posywell is what I meant to suggest. :)

For an entry about pigs, this sure is a big and comprehensive work! Its a shame Mannix hasn't been around lately. I always did enjoy his work.  :(

All right, I've had a more thorough look at Mannix's text, looking in detail only at those sections that he added after Seth's uri-check (which he already integrated).

And in short: I find no fault, and think this entry can go up unchanged, except for three or four things:

"Myth/Lore" Section

(1) Correct the typo I identified in my post from 23 April (is --> are)

(2) Delete "<insert fable here>" (again, see my post above)

(3) For XXX, substitute "Ortledink Posywell". (Two occcurences, again see my post above for the relevant paragraph.)


"Special Abilities" Section

(4)
I suggest to change the reference from 'Kodael' to 'Hob-hound'. As the discussion in this thread shows, Mannix was basically looking for an intelligent type of dog. As this is a hobbit-related entry, I am almost certain that Mannix would have referenced the Hob-hound, an intelligent type of dog that is a common pet and guard-dog among hobbits, had it been developed at the time (which it wasn't).

Mannix did include some notes in the bottom of his submission, but they constitute nothing more than a list of unentried references used in the entry. They were not intended to be integrated into this entry.

So in my humble opinion, this is ready for a check by a Bestiary moderator or other personage authorized to confer a blarrow.


PS: And I agree very much with Azhira. I miss Mannix.

Oh, and in case that's any help:

I'm happy to integrate the changes I suggested and post the full corrected text here, or send it to Art in a word file if that's easier for him. I'm also happy to incorporate further corrections if someone else finds further things in need of correction.

I think this entry deserves to be on the site, and I'm happy to take care of it, unless somebody else wants to.

If you can do the updated version (in Word, or posted here), Shab, that would be wonderful :) Seems there's not a lot to change, so whenever it's complete I'm perfectly happy! :D - The entry definitely deserves to be on site, yup!

Names: Hogling, Tug, Hobbit Pig, Draft-Swine, Shire Shoat, Hobquon, Riding Pig, Lín'rhaem'quón (Styrásh 'Hobbit Pig' or 'Little-Folk Pig')

Categorization: Domestic Animals / Others

Overview

The Hogling goes by an assortment of names; Tug, Hobbit Pig, Draft-Swine, Shire Shoat, Hobquon, Riding Pig, Lín'rhaem'quón (Styrásh 'Hobbit Pig' or 'Little-Folk Pig') and of course Hogling. It is every bit like its namesake, the halfling; short, hairy and rather round. In the world of pigs, it would most probably pass as the cutest of them all, mainly due to its miniature size. But for this hog, size definitely doesn’t matter, as it is quite strong and is used frequently by hobbits to pull heavy weights. Another surprise this pig holds is its speed. For such hefty animals, the Hoglings’ speed is quite remarkable, allowing them to become popular racing animals. They are found almost entirely around the halfling shires, for they too are ‘halflings’. Standing at a much shorter height than other domestic pigs, they are much more manageable for the shorter folk, and their cute looks and curly tails delight many of the younger hobbitlings.

Appearance

From a distance, it would be hard to tell the Hogling from any other domestic pig, however, up close the differences are numerous, most notably the size. Standing at a bit over one fore and one palmspan if on a boar's legs, while the sows are generally slightly shorter at a little bit below one fore and one palmspan, the Hogling is much shorter than most other domestic pigs, and indeed most domestic animals. This size is the main reason that the pig is farmed, among other things, by the hobbits, as some other breeds of pigs can grow taller than some of the smaller hobbits. They much prefer the Hogling being only half their size, making it perfect petting height. Were a Hogling to stand upright on its hindlegs, however, it would likely tower over any halfling, with a body length of approximately a ped.

Another aspect of the Hogling that it shares with its counterpart the halfings is its rounded body. While many farm animals become bloated from the sheer amount of grass they eat, especially when the pasture is green, the Hogling is something else. Its barrel-chested body extends not only outwards, like in many farm animals, but also downwards, very much downwards, often leaving the pig weighing around fifteen heb. Some rather spoilt Hoglings have been known to have their belly dragging along the ground. It is this belly that is the pig’s most defining feature, apart of course from its size. It is also thought among some, usually not hobbitish themselves, to be the reason hobbits adore them so.

The Hogling's foot, or trotter, as with all pigs, is an unusual body part, compared to many animals, but is also similar to some of the more common farm animals. It has two main toes, situated in the middle, and two much smaller ones on the outside of the foot, much further back. These feet are attached to the pig's body with four short, often knobbly-kneed, legs. The back two of these legs extend backwards from the body, and then bend at the knee to point forwards, while the front two are more or less straight, and often slightly longer. All four of these legs, though, are very meaty, following suit with the rest of the pig's body.

A pig’s snout is probably one of its most defining features, it being such a unique appendage. Extending from the end of the Hogling’s face is this leathery pad. Being one of the very few places on the pig’s body without hair is only the beginnings of its remarkableness. To the Hogling, its snout is incredibly important, especially when it comes to food. Not only does its amazing sense of smell help it find food, but the Hogling also uses its snout dig around in the foliage and dirt to get the food. To aid in this foraging, the pig is able to move its snout rather a lot.

At the end of the Hogling's back protrudes a little tail. It is rather common for this tail to have a single twist, creating a loop, though some Hoglings may have straight tails, while others may have two twists in their tail. The tails with a double twist are deemed the most adorable by the hobbitlings, followed by the single twist. When bearing the rare double twist, the tail always hangs without touching the body, but a tail with a single twist or none at all would likely rest against the body, the curled ones usually falling to one side. Less commonly, a tail without a twist may remain raised, curving to touch the pig’s back. These tails are usually quite thin, around a nailsbreadth in thickness, and most commonly reach a length of two palmspans, though twists can often make this deceiving. Most hobbits believe that a Hogling with a double-twisted tail is superiorly bred, and so often fetch the most money as a stud boar.

A rather peculiar feature of the Hogling is that the signs of its aging are similar to a hobbit’s. The earliest of these is the size of the pig's stomach, as the pig, like a hobbit, grows into this fuller belly. This increase in the pig's midriff is more a sign of maturity, rather than a sign of the pig's aging. As the pig grows more elderly, however, more signs appear. The pig's skin starts to loosen and wrinkle, especially around the legs and face. The latter of these often manages to coax a giggle out of the little hobbitlings as they compare the elderly pig's face to a neighbour or family member. Towards the end of the pig's life, the skin above the eyes can sag so much that it covers the Hogling's eyes, making navigation a bit difficult. The final sign of age in a Hogling is the loss of colour in its hair, only aiding the hobbitlings in the comparison with a greying hobbit.

Special Abilities

For such a small animal, it is rather surprising that the Hogling possesses considerable strength. Coupled with the large weight it is able to throw against something, the Hogling makes a respectable draught beast. Though the hobbithorse is a superior draft animal, due to its larger size, the Hogling is still a sturdy animal, able to pull heavy weights. For the hobbit pig farmers, it is far easier to use their Hogling as a draught beast rather than borrow a hobbithorse from a neighbour. Hoglings are able to pull ploughs and other heavy farm objects, with the right harnessing equipment, though carts filled with, say, barrels upon barrels of ale best be left to the hobbithorse. Apart from aiding it in being a draught animal, the Hogling's strength can help in many other ways, giving it many other uses. The most notable of these was the Hogling belonging to the rather quirky Tatterbrill Spurdowns, or Tat to his sparse friends, a reputable breeder of these pigs in his earlier years. Later in life the hobbit grew somewhat odd, some claiming him crazy, and he kept his Hogling, named Rufus, as a bodyguard. He claimed the pig was a better guardian than any dog, though this was never tested, as his paranoia seemed quite unfounded.

Aside from their adorable looks, the Hogling's speed is the reason the pig is so well loved among the hobbits. The pigs provide great entertainment for hobbits young and old, and for some good income as well. The annual 'Hog-Jockey Cup', held in the Dogodan shire, remains one of the most popular and biggest events in a hobbit's year. The piglets are usually faster than the older pigs, due mainly to their lack of both roundness and jockeys. The older pigs, however, are the main attraction of the races, with the piglets being seen more as entertainment for the hobbitlings. An adult racing Hogling usually runs half a stral in around two minutes, though in 1349 a.S. Elsie Swirlytail, a Hogling racing legend ran the same distance in one and a quarter minutes, by a wheely-watch's time, at the Hog-Jockey Cup, and this still remains the record today.

Like any pig, the Hogling has a remarkable sense of smell, especially useful for truphull snuffling. They depend on their snout, rather than their eyes, to find their food, and use it especially to hunt out the best food, as the strongest smelling is the best tasting, at least in their eyes. They look much like a dog when searching, snout to the ground, constantly sniffing, which results in an odd snorting noise that entertains all the little hobbitlings. While this sense of smell is amazing, compared to other domestic and wild breeds of pigs it is inferior.

As any hobbit could tell you, the Hogling is rather intelligent, said to rival a Hob-hound, or in fact any dog. Hoglings are quite trainable, being used as truphull snufflers, steeds, pets and, on the odd occasion, bodyguards. All one needs to train one of these pigs is some patience and a great deal of treats. This intelligence also aids the pig in finding food and avoiding predators, not that either of these are much of a problem if the pig is in the shire. The Hogling is also rather sensitive to the weather, somehow being able to sense climate changes. Farmers rely on their Hoglings to predict the weather for the day, allowing them to alter their schedule. Every morning, the hobbit will go out and check on the pigs, looking for signs of weather change, and after a quick message to any neighbours without a Hogling, decide on what to do for the day. Farmers have noticed that when bad weather, such as a storm, is coming, the Hogling will act agitated, dig holes, seek shelter and some farmers insist their pigs stockpile food before a storm.

Territory

As a hobbit pig it is only right that the Hogling lives in the same areas as the halflings. As a highly domesticated animal, bred almost exclusively by hobbits, the Hogling dwells in and around the three hobbit shires of Southern Sarvonia. Hoglings are most numerous in the Dogodan shire, due to the extensive hills they are able to graze in. With an ample layer of fat, the Hogling is able to survive quite comfortably from the most southern shire, Elenveran, to the most northern, Silvershire, though the Hoglings of that shire generally have more hair than others. There are also a few Hoglings owned by people of other races, though their numbers are small.

Habitat/Behaviour

The Hogling is a domestic pig, kept by hobbits, and as such usually lives a life in relative comfort. Those kept for farming are likely to have free access to pastures to reduce the amount of supplementary feeding. The pigs would be enclosed in a yard, to prevent mishaps, and in or connecting to the yard there would likely be a barn for the pigs to sleep in and shelter from the weather. A sow, when close to birth and after, would be moved to a separate stall to protect the piglets, and in the cases of overly-protective mothers, protect the other pigs. This is usually much the same for racing pigs and sometimes truphull snufflers, as they sometimes double up as farmyard animals. Hobbits owning pet pigs, however, usually only have one, or two at the most, and so their habitat is somewhat different. Firstly the confines would likely be smaller and close to the house, to comfort the pig. This is the major problem with singular pigs, as they are a herd animal and get lonely when by themselves. Because of this, a pet Hogling needs attention and over time will often grow to act much like a dog, forming a bond with its owner.

Diet

Like their halfling counterparts, Hoglings have a hearty appetite, necessary to maintain their rounded bodies. Pigs in general are known to be undemanding eaters, and the Hogling is no different. Their diet predominantly consists of vegetation, from grass, bushes, trees, if they can reach the foliage, fruit, grains, berries and vegetables. Hobbit farmers must be careful to fence their garden well, for these pigs are unrelenting eaters and are prone to targeting the prized flowers. Grains are particularly useful for fattening a pig quickly, and so are ideal for young pigs. Grain-fed Hoglings are also said to have richer flavoured meat. While grains are the most common feed to enhance the Hogling’s taste, there are many other foods that are claimed to aid the meat’s flavour. Berries, for example, are said to lend their zest to the pig, and some farmers also claim that pigs that eat a lot of herbs can gain their flavour too. Many Hoglings also have a liking for the distinctive taste of hobbitweed, so cultivators of the plant must be wary. As well as plants, the Hogling also has a taste for fish, though other meats can be eaten in moderation, sometimes insects and occasionally even bark.  Because of its wide palate, the Hogling is the perfect way to dispose of any household scraps. No Hogling, however, can survive on grass alone, and so it must be fed with other foods, even if it is only additional grain. Nor can they live only on meat, as a few farmers have tried.

Mating

The mating of the Hogling is an unusual and noisy experience. At the age of ten months a boar is sexually mature and able to mate, whereas a female need only be eight months old. A sow will come on heat every month, give or take a week, though the temperature can often affect this and rather brutal summers and winters can result in poor breeding. While it is possible for a sow to be mated at eight months of age, the piglets are likely to be smaller and even deformed, especially if the sow is bred with a young boar, and so they are often kept until they reach the age of a year.

There are several signs both a sow and boar will give suggesting that the sow is on heat, known also as hogging. The sow's genitalia will swell up and possibly discharge, however a much more easily seen sign is the sow standing still and grunting and squealing, especially when near a boar. A boar will also nudge a sow that is on heat and sometimes will also froth at the mouth. While on heat, the sow will often become much lazier, preferring to lie down. Taking advantage of this, the boar often collects small amounts of food and places it in front of the sow to win her affection.

The actual mating of the pigs varies a lot for each pig and their environment. Some matings take mere minutes while others may last up to half an hour. When a sow is on heat the boar will mount the pig and lock onto her. The mating is aggressive, though in the longer cases the boar often lacks the energy to maintain this. It is almost impossible to separate the pigs during mating, though a splash of water over the head usually distracts them enough to pull them apart if that were desired. Throughout this whole mating process the boar will grunt and squeal, as too will the sow on odd occasions though she is much more likely to seem disinterested, sniffing the ground and even eating.

Roughly four months after the mating the sow will give birth to six to eight piglets, though litters of ten have been heard of. Sows are known to be extremely protective of their litters, whereas the boars resume their lazy lives. Any wise farmer would do well to keep their distance from the sow during the first few days after birthing, making prevention of tail irritation rather difficult. The sow will spend much of its time lying on its side so that her piglets may feed, though this shouldn't fool you into thinking it isn't wary. While the Hogling is a protective mother, compared to its cousin the domestic pig it is rather placid. The piglets are bigger than those of a regular domestic sow, relative to their mother's size, though the Hogling piglets grow slightly slower than their cousins and so their superior size doesn't last long. Once the piglets are one month old they are able to be separated from their mother and her milk to instead feed on solids and hence cease to be piglets, but rather weaners. If not separated from their mothers, the piglet will be weaned by their mothers themselves, though this will take longer. The mother sow will then be able to mate again when she is next on heat, though some farmers prefer to give the sow a break.

Myth/Lore/Origin

The hobbits definitely have more than their fair share of sayings and idioms, a few of which refer to the Hogling. The first of these, ‘a Hogling’s gift’, is an expression meaning a present given by a hobbit with the intention to charm a sweetheart. This relates to the tendency of male Hoglings to shower their chosen partner with gifts of food.

Similar to this saying, there is a second often used among the shires. When a young hobbit goes to an elder seeking advice on how to go about approaching the lass or lad of his or her choice, the hobbit may be met with the reply, 'think like a Hogling', implying that the hobbit should do something to please his or her darling, whether it be to give a material gift or a compliment.

A third saying one might hear from a hobbit’s mouth again refers to the Hogling’s gift giving. A hobbit who overdoes the 'Hogling-thinking' is one who persists with his advances while it's obvious to everyone but himself that the subject of his affection is not interested. This hobbit may then be given the advice ‘stop shoving Hogling hoards into her face’.

The origins of this pig are not known for sure, yet there are a few tales floating around the shires on this subject. Some hobbits say that the pig is simply bred from the normal domestic pig, many of these claiming this done by their great great great uncle's fourth cousin thrice removed, or some other similar relation. Another common theory is that the Hogling is related to the striped kara, a southerner pig of an even smaller stature than the Hogling. It is thought that a rather adventurous hobbit brought one of these striped pigs back to his shire, and after breeding it with domestic pigs, the Hogling eventually emerged. This is certainly supported by the occasional multicoloured pig, with this mixture of colours usual showing itself as a coloured band, or stripe, around the torso.

As any hobbit could tell you, the fables of Ortledink “Dinkie” Posywell nearly always had characters who were animals, often able to speak. The Hogling was an animal often used by Ortledink  in his fables. The most notable of these is 'The Three Troublesome Pigs', a tale known by heart since an early age by every hobbitling, teaching them the moral that cheeky hobbitlings always end up getting their comeuppance.


Researchers

Ebeneber 'Benny' Tricklebrook, born 1583 a.S., being a farmer and author of a guide to farming, knows quite a lot about Hoglings, and indeed any other animal farmed by hobbits. Since he was a young hobbitling, Benny always knew he would be a farmer, just like his many fore fathers stretching back to his great great great great grandfather, Longborst 'Logie' Tricklebrook. He had always loved animals, especially fond of petting the two little Hobytla Coneys they kept in a hutch. And so when he aged, and inherited the farm from his father he continued the farming, steadily growing as they always had. He married a nice hobbit lass, Camellia Hayward, who was the daughter of a Racing-Hogling breeder of good reputation. When her father grew too old to manage his stud, he passed it on to Benny.

With now over double the lands he had once owned, Benny expanded his livestock, bringing in new animals. He was known through much of the shire as an excellent farmer, and, after some encouragement from his friends and wife, he agreed to share his knowledge with his fellow hobbits. So he started writing his book, starting by compiling a list of every fact and tip he could think of about any animal he owned, which happened to be almost any type of animal found in the shire. It took him two years to finish, as it grew from a simply helping his friends to a guide for any farmer, and so he went to others for help. Once finished the book spread around the shire like wildfire, and after word spread, to the other shires as well.

Benny became famous among all hobbit farmers as possibly the best farmer alive, some often claiming him being blessed by Odelve himself. His research of the Hogling was rather easy, due to his acquired Hogling stud. His wife also put him in contact with some other breeders, who gave him additional information on the pig. Now, at the ripe old age of 86, Benny lives on his farm with his wife and children. His children now tend the farms, with his daughter head of the Hogling stud and his son in charge of the original farm. And they too promise to be a talented farmers, having learnt from the master.

Usages

The Hogling is known to have a few main usages, however the hobbits, being a thrifty folk, are constantly finding new uses for the pig. Obviously, the main use of this pig is for the food it provides. A party would not be complete without a finely roasted Hogling. It is a true compliment to all guests if such a pig were served whole after hours over a spit, due to the sheer amount of effort and time in preparing and cooking the succulent pig. Nearly every part of the pig can be eaten, by hobbits at least. Sausages, bacon, pork and ham are taken from the pig meat, and the skin can also be eaten after being fried. The feet of the pig, known as trotters, when cook slowly for a long time, are also said to be a delectable treat, and the pig's ears are often given to dogs as a treat. When cooked correctly, the pig's head can be used to create a preserve known as pig cheese, and this is rather popular served with pork. And finally the offal is also often eaten, or fed to dogs. After the hobbits are done, there is usually barely anything left of the pig.

Being particularly hairy pigs, the Hogling’s hair has a variety of uses. They can be used in brushes of all kinds, especially paintbrushes, as their hair is slightly softer than most other domestic pigs'. Paintbrushes made of Hogling hair, especially from around the ears, are said to give a smooth brushstroke because of their softness and so are quite popular among the Bardavos artisans. However, for other brushes, such as hairbrushes, coarser hair is preferred, which can be found on the Hogling’s back, running along its spine. This line of hair is easily noticeable as it is more plentiful there than on the rest of the body and rises when the pig is happy or scared.

The hobbits are famous for their parties and feasts, and while the Hogling could add magnificently to the feast aspect, they can also benefit to parties. Hoglings, being rather fast for such a rotund animal, have become part of a quite large tradition known as pig racing. Pig racing makes a great party game, but this tradition has grown in the hobbit shires, and now pig racing is also a separate activity from parties. The pigs, when young, are raced by themselves, but when the pigs are bigger they are raced along a track, with a jockey on their back. Pig racing has become a rather large event, and there are now pig breeders, trainers, jockeys and pigs themselves who work as racing pigs. There is often prize money involved with the racing and betting is also popular at the races. The largest, and most prized event of all the races is the annual 'Hog-Jockey Cup' of the Dogodan shire, where the best pigs from all shires are raced against each other and the winner takes home the golden trophy, as well as a sizeable amount of prize money.

The Hogling is again useful as a draught animal, owing to its considerable strength and its  large weight to throw around. While the hobbithorse is more adept in this area, due to its larger size, the Hogling is still able to hold its own as a draught animal. Its major flaw in this area is its laziness. Farmers often find that their Hogling won't pull what they ask simply because it doesn't want to. The Hogling would usually much rather sleep or eat, and so farmers often have to tempt the Hogling along with some edible treats.

Truphulls are extremely coveted among the hobbit cooks, and due to their usual exorbitant price, these hobbits prefer not to buy truphulls. As such, they must instead find the truphulls for themselves. Hobbit Truphull Snufflers, as they are known, generally use the Hogling to aid in their hunting for truphulls, for the pigs are attracted to the pungent smell of the fungus. The Hogling is easier to manage for halflings than larger pigs and they need not worry as much about taking the truphull from the pig, however, due to increased domestication, the Hogling has a inferior sense of smell compared to most other domestic and wild pig breeds. This lessened smell makes hunting for truphulls harder for the Hogling, and so recently the Milo Pott terrier has been used instead of the pigs, at the penalty of the dogs’ behaviour.

Some Hoglings are kept by hobbits solely as pets. Their adorable looks and intelligence make them ideal pets, though their size can get a bit out of hand. Their intelligence is rather remarkable, and as such they can actually be trained as a dog would. The Hogling is definitely an outside pet, as their size, in comparison to hobbits and their homes, and their somewhat destructive nature makes keeping a pig indoor a regrettable action. As piglets they are able to be kept indoors and in some cases house trained, but when they grow their owners usually transfer them into a pen outside. As a piglet, the Hogling is especially cute, and hobbits are often prone to picking the piglets up for cuddles. However, most Hoglings are fearful of being picked up, and will be distressed until they feel the ground under their feet again.

Care

Hoglings are known to be rather docile animals, making caring for them much easier than for most pigs, and indeed most farm animals. While very little care is needed for these pigs, there is quite a lot of optional care that can make them a lot happier and healthier. The following is an excerpt from ‘Farmer Benny’s Guide To Farming’ on the care of Hoglings.

Hogling Care (from “Farmer Benny’s Guide To Farming”)

To care for a Hogling all you need do is provide it water for both drinking and bathing, food and a grassy area, that will sooner or later be mud. However, for the avid farmer, breeder, racer or pet owner, there is much more you can do. The Hogling’s skin is rather tough, and naturally dry. It is not necessary to bathe your pig regularly, but rather provide an area for them to bathe if they wish. In summer, some pigs enjoy the occasional dousing of water, and this should also be used to treat Hot Hog, but except for these cases, you should refrain from bathing your pig. Mud is a much better solution, and should be used instead of water if viable. I know a few Hobbits who give their pigs a ‘mud-massage’, which they claim stops the skin getting oily.

Because of their tough skin, your pig is very unlikely to suffer from fleas or ticks. If your pig is young, however, they are at risk to both of these pests. Their skin is much softer at a young age, allowing fleas or ticks to bite them. When the pigs age and their skin toughens fleas can no longer bite through their skin, though ticks still have a chance. In such areas as around the ears, under the legs and on the belly, the skin is softer there, and so these places should be checked periodically for ticks. There are a few cures for fleas and ticks, but the most common is to wash the pig with soap. While this isn’t good for their skin, it is the surest way to get rid of them. I have also heard of vinegar in the pig's water working, garlic in their food is said to as well, and I have even heard that a bowl of water with a lit candle in the middle kills them. If left with the pig overnight, the fleas jump into the water and die. As for ticks, you can remove them by pressing something hot against them. The place were the tick was should have a slight indentation, else the ticks head is still in the pig, and this head is able to burrow deeper.

Hoglings are known to be rather hairy animals, and once a year your Hogling will shed this hair. While shedding it will become very itchy, scratching against trees, posts, other pigs and whatever else is around. Once the pig starts shedding, you can help it along by brushing the pig; you could even use a brush made from Hogling hair. If you don't have a brush, or your pig finds grooming objectionable, which is sometime the case, you can simply give it a good scratch every so often. Apart from when shedding, your Hogling won't need to be groomed, though some racers groom their pig daily, and some pigs also enjoy it. People often collect the hair from Hoglings, as it has many uses, and so you may do so if you wish.

There are several things you can do for your boar to make his life better, as well as his productivity. Firstly, I have noticed that boars, if not allowed to interact with other pigs before aging a year, often perform badly in mating. Pigs are very sociable animals, living in herds, and so interaction is a must. But this can present a problem for the boars and the other pigs around them. Though rather small, a male Hogling's tusks still protrude from the mouth and so they present the possibility of injuring another pig, whether accidental or purposefully. While I myself do not practice this, some farmers remove these tusks. It is a difficult and arduous process, where the boar's mouth is opened by one hobbit, while another saws the tusk off so that they no longer protrude from the mouth. With this, there is the possibility of creating sharp points inside the boar's mouth, and it may cut itself. I believe de-tusking isn't necessary, as long as you have docile boars and spread feed out, as this is when a lot of pushing and shoving occurs. Most importantly for your whole herd, you must keep your boar free from ailments, as he has the biggest effect on the whole herd. And occasional addition of sunseed oil to the boars feed, say one or two sips, should help with this.

Sows are generally easier to care for than boars, thankfully as these females are in plentiful supply. They should of course always be well fed to maintain a nice condition. Ribs should definitely not show, but you must be careful not to over feed your pigs, as this can cause birthing problems. You can tell whether or not your sows are in good condition by the amount of fat on their legs, as there should be little on its knees. After being mated, a sow should be as calm as possible, and when she starts to grow even more rotund because of her piglets, about a month into pregnancy, additional food should be given to her. This extra feed should continue until weaning. When very close to birthing, also known as farrowing, I would recommend you feed your sow with some bark from the womblose tree, or birthbark. Even when in perfect condition, a Hogling is likely to experience birthing problems, raging from the minor, tail first births, to the major, extended time between piglets which can cause damage or death to both the sow and piglets. You can tell when your sow is nearing her birthing, as a few days before she will build a nest, by pushing hay, straw or anything else soft enough, into a pile.

Occasionally, newborn piglets can experience some problems. If possible, you should check that their mouths are clear so they can breathe, and make sure they feed as soon as possible after birth. When sows take rather long between piglets, the eventually-birthed piglet may be born in a stupor. It will seem dead, however, it is possible to revive it, but this must be done promptly. Clear the mouth and nose, as you would with any piglet, and grab it by its hind legs and swing it around at arms length, careful not to hurt the pig. At regular intervals of this swinging you can hold the piglet’s mouth shut and blow into its snout. If the piglet is revived, though often this is simply not the case, ensure it feeds from the sow immediately. Luckily, this stupor often happens to the larger piglets, as they are harder to birth, and so they are more likely to survive, being stronger animals.

When younger, the Hogling requires more attention than one of more years. Piglets are at their most vulnerable in their first weeks of life and so you must do all that you can to keep them warm. Warmth is incredibly important for piglets, yet it is rather hard to ensure it. Keep the piglets out of the wind in a pen and try and keep them close to their mothers. You should also remember, there is nothing better to warm a piglet up than a good mouthful of warm milk. Occasionally, especially in large litters, a piglet will be rejected by its mother, this usually happening to the runt of the litter. It is possible to save the piglet, with a bit of work. There are two methods of doing this, fostering the piglet to another sow or fostering it yourself. For the first, it is easier if another sow has had a piglet die. You can then rub a bit of the dead piglet’s blood on the orphan and the sow should adopt the piglet. If this is not possible, it is best to pick a sow with a small litter or an especially good mother. Then you must simply hold the piglet on the sow's teat regularly until it is adopted. This often fails much more than the other method and some sows protest rather a lot if a piglet not from their litter feeds from them. If you wish to foster the piglet yourself then you must feed it milk, preferably from a Hogling though milk from other animals can also work. To do this get a bladder and poke a hole in it to create a teat. While it make take some time, the piglet should eventually get used to feeding from this, but if this takes too long I'd suggest heating the milk slightly, to make it seem more natural.

Weaning a Hogling is a rather easy experience. When the piglet is a month old you can simply separate it from its mother, in another paddock or temporarily fence a pasture into two. Hoglings sometimes suffer from diarrhoea when being weaned because of the change from milk to grass, but there is nothing you can do to prevent this or cure it, you must simply wait for it to pass. Though there is much I have written about the tending of your Hogling, a lot of this is basic animal tending. The Hogling is a relatively low maintenance breed, especially if you do only what is necessary.

Ailments

The Hogling is prone to a few ailments, much to the dismay of farmers. However, most ailments are easily curable with a little bit of knowledge. Again, Farmer Benny explains the treatment of these diseases in his book.

Hogling Ailments (from “Farmer Benny’s Guide To Farming”)

The curly tails of some Hoglings often delight many hobbitlings, but this is also sometimes the case for piglets. The piglets often chew each other’s tails, which can then lead to the tail becoming irritated. This ailment is rather negligible, but it can be very annoying for the piglet. If the irritation is especially bad, the piglet may lose interest in food, though this is rare. To stop this, rub a paste on all of the piglets' tails to stop the chewing. The paste must contain mintnue, as the piglets dislike its strong taste. It is best if this paste is applied liberally two or three days after birth. If the tail is already irritated, still apply the ointment to prevent further chewing, but aside from that there is nothing you can do except keep an eye on the piglet.

These pigs are also known to suffer from Greasy Pig. This ailment first shows signs with greasy and oily skin, and can later lead to warts and even death. Pigs rolling in ‘bad mud’ are likely to soon contract this disease. The mud for this pig is best taken directly from a paddock, as mud from such places as a riverbank is known by hogherders as ‘bad mud’ and leads to Greasy Pig. A few farmers have also added meadow weed to the pigs’ feed and insist that this prevents the disease. In the case of death the meat of this pig is then tainted and should not be eaten.

A final ailment of these pigs, very common in the summer months, is Hot Hog. It is much more minor than the prior. This ailment is caused by too much contact with sunlight. As this breed of pig has more fat and hair than others, it can only stay in the sun’s rays for a shorter time, and thoroughly enjoys a mud-bath. A pig suffering this would most likely refrain from eating as much, and hence lose condition, drink much larger amounts of water, leading it to become bloated, as well as suffer from trembling, rashes, tiredness, and in extreme cases vomiting. These can all be cured with a dousing of cold water, twice a day for two to three days. After that time the pig should have recovered and regained its appetite. In the case of becoming bloated the usual treatment of a mouth full of sunseed oil should cure the pig. If left untreated, the Hogling may die, and, for some reason unknown, the meat of the pig gains a peculiar taste, making it nearly unusable. There is however one way to use the meat; if you have a good sausage receipt then that can usually cover the odd taste, though a little more flavouring may be needed. These sausages, known as hot hog sausages, or simply hot hogs, go great with some freshly baked bread and a sauce of your choice.

All right, then. My suggestion is contained in the post above this one. My changes are in orange. I also added titles to the two excerpts of a hobbit farmer's book.

Contrary to what I (hastily, all too hastily) claimed, a thorough check found quite a number of small issues in the text; most were of a grammatical nature. I started marking corrections in orange, but soon I realized that there were quite a lot, all of them small and (I think) uncontroversial, so I stopped marking each and every one. The orange bits that are  in the text are a representative sample of the kinds of amendments I have made.

I have on occasion also deleted a word repetition when it could very easily be avoided, and have permitted myself to slightly reformulate three or four sentences, which seemed unclear to me in their original form. However, I have tried not to interfere with Mannix's writing style.

I hope I've done Mannix justice.

May he return!

I'm giving him an aura point, in the hope that it'll make his ears pleasantly tingle.

"It is thought that a rather adventurous hobbit brought one of these stripped pigs back to his shire..."

So, I wonder, if a stripped pig won a race, would it then be known as a Streaker?

Many thankls and aura +1 for your dedicated work and saving the entry from oblivion, Shab! I guess Mannix (wherever he's right now) would be perfectly happy with the slight fixes here and there, so I'm happy to put this up that way :D

On the other hand Judy raises an interesting question: Are streakers pigs? - Or is it the other way round? At any rate a case of Development Blunder page... - Which I think should eventually be moved from our 2008 Anniversary special to an own permanent page in the Web Menu, under a section that could be called "Dev Fun" or something (along with Easter Eggs).

Ever watchful of restoring propriety, I have put some becoming limegreen clothes on the karas.

I also discovered some streakers in the Shendar People and Long-Eared Monkey entries, and will see what I can do to safeguard their dignity.

A Brownie Point from me as well for your wonderful work in saving this from oblivion, not to mention your always-appreciated sense of proportion, dignitas, and humour...

:)

Artimidor, when you integrate this, don't forget Judith's picture, please!

Reply #20!

(Aura for Judith for that!)

Yep, yep, of course!  :thumbup: