DOGS. 61 



animal is born with his eyes closed, and does not open them tiU 

 the tenth or twelfth day. The female brings forth from six to 

 seven, and sometimes twelve young at a birth. The life of the 

 dog is commonly limited to fourteen or fifteen years ; though 

 some have been known to live twenty years. Its age is known 

 by the teeth becoming blunt, unequal and dark coloured, as the 

 animal grows old ; when young, they are white, trenchant and 

 pointed. 



36. Dogs are voracious and gluttonous ; nevertheless, they can 

 fast for a long time ; they readily accustom themselves to all 

 kinds of food, although, they have a special fondness for meat, 

 and particularly for carrion. Their stomach, which is endowed 

 with great energy, digests very readily the hardest and most com- 

 pact bones. 



37. The dog runs with great rapidity for a long distance. The 

 pores of his skin being very much closed, he never sweats, even 

 in the very hottest weather ; but when he is very warm, he lolls 

 out his tongue, and frequently draws it in ; he plunges into the 

 water without being incommoded. He drinks by lapping, so that 

 with his tongue, he lifts the water, which, being in this way in- 

 troduced little by little, into the stomach, is gradually warmed, 

 and he therefore experiences no inconvenience, by the sudden 

 cold that a considerable quantity of water, swallowed at once, 

 produces in the interior of the body when very warm 



38. The acuteness of the sense of smell, in some races of dogs, 

 gives them a perception that is not to be found in any other species 

 of animals, not even excepting man. This sagacity is par- 

 ticularly manifested in the discovery and pursuit of game. The 

 dog perceives the odorous traces with which the soil is impreg- 

 nated, for twenty-four hours after game has passed over it, and 

 in this way, guides himself to the cover where the animal hides. 

 There are two principal races of dogs suited for hunting, one of 

 which is trained to pursue animals, and the other to stand at the 

 place where they are discovered. 



39. The dog is the most complete, and one of the most useful 

 conquests that man has achieved over nature ; the whole species 

 has become our property, and even the trace of his primitive state 

 has been lost. Wild dogs, which are found in many countries; 

 belong to the domestic races that have regained their indepen- 



36. What is the food of dogs ? Have Dogs good digestive powers ? 



37. Do Dogs perspire freely? Wl>y do Dogs suffer no inconvenience from 

 irinkinjr cold water? 



.i8. Have Do'js a keen sene of smell ? How it< this fact manifested 7 

 39. Is the^e any primitive race of Dogs ? 



