58 A FIELD GUIDE IN NATURE-STUDY 



usage quietly to partake of the prey which they have hunted alone and 

 killed in the solitude of the forest or jungle. Not so the dog tribe. They 

 have hunted in packs, and when the kill was at last accomplished each 

 animal seized his share, eating amid a jostling crowd of hungry fellows. 

 Each secured the choicest morsel possible and defended it against all comers. 

 Yet each was anxious to stow a large share of the plunder in the shortest 

 time in that one spot secure from the claims of disputants. 



This has not been suggested with the expectation that so much of 

 philosophizing will be attempted with pupils of the lower grades, but merely 

 to give the teacher an inkling of what may be disclosed by the observations 

 we are now making. 



Methods of motion. Watch a cat move from place to place. Does 

 she walk? Does she run? Does she go in any other way? Note par- 

 ticularly the crouching attitude assumed by the cat as she intently watches 

 a moving object; then see the few quick bounds with which she reaches 

 it. Try putting the cat on a post or tree trunk and watch her come down. 

 Coax her to climb by holding a piece of meat or other food upon the tree 

 just out of her reach. As she climbs have the children observe how she 

 does it. Does pussy climb as a boy would climb a tree ? 



Now watch the dog as he runs about. Does he walk, run, jump, or 

 climb ? How did you get the dog to come to school ? Did his master just 

 call him ? Did puss follow her mistress to school or did she have to be 

 carried ? Watch the rabbit and squirrel to see how they move about. 

 Does the rabbit walk or run like a dog ? Watch the squirrel climb and 

 note whether he does it as a cat climbs. Watch the squirrels and chip- 

 munks in the woods and see what they are busy doing these days. 



Cleanliness. Let the cat have some milk to drink or a bone to gnaw 

 and after she has finished watch her at her toilet. She usually cleans her- 

 self after feeding. How does she use her tongue in the process ? What use 

 does she make of her paws ? Does she ever go in for a swim ? Does the 

 dog like to go in the water? Do you give your dog a chance to take a 

 bath? Watch the squirrel and rabbit as they wash and clean their fur. 

 During the week when this topic of cleanliness is being studied it will be 

 well, whenever the squirrels or rabbits are cleaning their faces, to take 

 time to watch them, as this process cannot be produced at will as feed- 

 ing can. 



Sleep. Do dogs and cats sleep ? rabbits and squirrels ? What position 

 does the cat take when she sleeps ? Where does she like best to go to sleep ? 

 Where does the dog prefer to sleep? What position does he take when 

 asleep ? What motions does he usually make before he lies down ? Does 

 the cat sleep much in the daytime? Does the dog? Have you a good 



