state that a pig of the age of eight weeks old
should have its two central incisors fully grown. A pig three months
old should have all four temporary incisors cut, the two outside ones
being more than half as long as the two central incisors.

As the first set of the teeth of a pig like that of a child are merely
temporary, and as these give place at fairly definite ages of the owner
to permanent ones, it may be well to endeavour to describe as clearly as
possible the position and appearance of the temporaries as compared with
the permanents. The pig is one of the few animals which is possessed of
teeth at its birth; these number eight, two on each side of the upper
and lower jaw. It has been suggested that these early teeth are provided
to assist the pigling to grasp firmly the sow's teat when in the act of
sucking. These eight teeth vary somewhat in length; those pigs which are
carried by the sow beyond the usual period of sixteen weeks frequently
have longer and even sharper teeth than those of pigs which are born at
the usual time. These longer teeth are also sometimes of a dark colour.
This is doubtless the origin of the remark commonly made by
old-fashioned pigmen that "pigs born with black teeth never do well."
This might have been so prior to the discovery that the breaking off the
sharp teeth of the newly born pigs frequently saved trouble, and often
the life of the little pigs. Pigs whose teeth are discoloured at birth
are usually more robust rather than the reverse, since the sow carrying
them beyond the allotted time is invariably in a vigorous state of
health, and her pigs consequently more fully developed.

When the pig is about a month old, the two central incisors are cut in
each jaw, these are two of the four front teeth in each jaw of the pig
at a subsequent age. Two temporary molars are also cut on each side of
the jaw above and below, with the first temporary molar in each place
ready to come through the gum.

At two months the temporary central incisors are fully developed, and
the two lateral temporary incisors can be seen in the gums, if they are
not already through. All three temporary molars are now about level.

When the pig is about three months old its temporary teeth are all in
position, the temporary lateral incisors are through, and nearly as long
as the temporary central incisors. Owing to the lengthening of the jaws
the two temporary corner teeth which were present at birth will have