The body of this book is arranged by continent, then country or region, and then by individual breed. The characteristics and history of each breed are given. The scope of the book is international, with special emphasis on Europe and the United Kingdom.The geographic sections are preceded by chapters on wild pigs, the taming of pigs, and the breeding of pigs. Appendixes list pig-breeding companies in the U.K., extinct breeds, synonyms, and a bibliography. There is an extensive index set in type that is so small as to be difficult to read. The British author has written numerous books on livestock, including Cattle: A Handbook to Breeds of the World (Cornell, 1992). The illustrator also works extensively with agricultural subjects, researching and painting more than 200 breeds for this work. Black-and-white maps and illustrations are placed at appropriate places in the text; colorplates are grouped together in a separate section. The illustrations add much to the value of the book. However, using the plates is rendered a three-step process by the combination of putting them together in one section and using silhouettes on facing pages to label the plates rather than labeling them directly on the colored pages. Libraries serving agricultural communities will find this readable book useful. |
