[The morphology of domestic pigs in middle Europe during the 16th to 18th century].

The external of swine in Mideurope during the 16th to 18th century will be described based on a few publications and various pictures (120). Long legged, slender, bristly pigs with long snouts and prick ears dominated during the 16th century, sometimes, however, compact animals with shorter snouts and larger prick or lope ears have been depicted (Tab. 1). During the 17th century no correct descriptions of the pigs are avaiable. The pictures show similar types as in the century before (tab. 1). In pig herds the heterogenity especially of heads and ears in pigs kept in this time is demonstrated. During the 18th century agriculturists postulate long pigs as well as compact types. On the (few) pictures in this century more compact animals with short snouts and long ears have been presented, partly from England probably with the influence of imported asiatic pigs. From the 2 dominating types of land races in Mideurope at the end of the 18th century (small, prick eared or large with lope ears) the former may be derived from the medieval mideuropean pig, while the second one may arise from imports from mediterranean countries and crossings.