lO 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



narrow, deep one ; but we pass now to an 

 exterior description of the animal. 



F'irst in line come the skin, the hair, the 

 color, and the physical conformation. 



The skin of dogs which have not been over- 



or "part," along the back and on the legs. 

 Thus Mother Nature herself takes care of their 

 toilet. Yet it is curious to observe how she 

 allows the hair on the chest, the belly, and 

 under the neck to get tangled. The joints 



and solid.' In many it is 

 supple, especially about 

 the neck and head. All 

 dogs have upon the 

 head, near the jaw and 

 above the eyes, seven 

 little round protuber- 

 ances from which spring 

 several sensitive hairs, 

 which have their nerves 

 and roots in those pro- 

 tuberances. In healthy 

 dogs that are properly 

 cared for the skin is 



odorless, but at the least negligence or the 

 least illness a very disagreeable efflu\ium is 

 given forth. 



The hair of dogs protects them from atmos- 

 pheric influences, and also, in certain cases, 



EX.\MPLE OF THE ELASTIC SKIN OF THE NECK 



petted or too delicately reared is rather thick form the boundaries between these patches of 



hair that are so different 

 in direction. The longer 

 the hair the more erect it 

 is on the joints; hence 

 those curious tufts that 

 we find behind the 

 paws of certain breeds. 

 These tufts are called 

 " feathers " ; we find 

 them on the tails of set- 

 ters, and wherever a 

 variation in the direction 

 of the growth of the hair 

 exists. In dogs with 

 rough or wiry hair it does not lie in the normal 

 direction, but grows erect in every direction, 

 in a confused mass. 



The different kinds of hair play a great part 

 at bench shows, as we shall see later. Two 

 from injury to the skin. Though dogs give kinds are specially distinguished from each 

 much less time to their toilet than parrots other, — the long-haired and the short-haired, 



— in both of which come a legion of 

 varieties, such as glossy, rough, bristling, 

 curly, wavy, woolly, silky, frizzled, etc. 

 These nomenclatures describe themselves. 

 The Pomeranians have long hair, while 

 the German watchdog has it short and 

 glossy, the griffons bristling, retrievers 

 curly, Russian wolfhounds wavy, English 

 sheep dogs woolly, some poodles frizzled, 

 and certain Maltese dogs, also Yorkshire 

 terriers, silky. 



The color of dogs, or, properly speaking, 

 of their coats, plays a great part in the 

 valuation of breeds, and also, unfortunately, 

 in the estimation of fashion. Which is the 

 finest color .? Put it to public vote and the result 

 would have only a passing value. The idea of 

 beauty changes with each epoch, and the choice 

 the flanks it lies with regularity from the front between the black, red-brown, uniform brown 

 towards the hind quarters, and in certain long- or striped, yellow, gray, or white of our dogs 

 haired dogs we can distinguish a dividing line, depends on circumstances and on the purpose 



Example of "Feather" on the Tail 



or cats, there is really no ground of complaint 

 against them on this score. Their hair falls 

 naturally into place ; upon the back and aloni; 



