170 PHYSIOLOGY AT THE FARM. 



plates of the superior maxillary bones, and the inferior por- 

 tions of the palate bones. The hard palate or roof of the 

 mouth consists of mucous membrane spread over the periosteal 

 covering of the bony plates just mentioned. 



The veil of the palate has much the same character as the 

 corresponding part in the horse, with this difference, however, 

 that it does not form at any time so complete a separation be- 

 tween the anterior and posterior cavities of the mouth, but 

 freely permits the contents of the stomach in vomiting to be 

 discharged through the anterior part of the cavity. 



Tongue. The tongue of the dog does not differ much from 

 the tongue in the human body. It is, however, proportionately 

 longer and narrower than in man. Moreover there are upon the 

 root of the tongue in the dog, as well as upon the mouth, many 

 papillse placed obliquely backwards, which assist in preventing 

 the food from escaping. There is, likewise, in the dog's 

 tongue a tendinous cord, vulgarly called the worm, in the under 

 part of the substance of the organ, which extends as far as the 

 point, and is enclosed in a membranous sheath. Comparative 

 anatomists are not quite agreed as to the character of this cord 

 or ligament. Cuvier describes it as belonging to the cat and 

 the bear, as well as to the dog. Others say it is peculiar to 

 the dog and the opossum, which last animal drinks like the dog. 

 However this may be, there is a general persuasion that this 

 ligament is of service in the process of drinking. In drinking, 

 the horse, the ox, and the sheep bring their lips into contact 

 with the water, and sip it gradually ; the dog, with a longer 

 tongue, plunges it a little way into the water, and, curving its 

 tip and edges, laps the water with a quick succession of the 

 same movements. The hyoid bone, or bone of the tongue, 

 conforming in its details of development in the dog to the 

 standard exhibited in carnivorous animals, agrees in its more 

 prominent characters with those belonging to mammals in 



