Tlic Do(r cind its Habits. 



"<b 



Volumes might be written, if desirable, relating all the 

 extraordinary stories of which dogs are the heroes. 

 Every day, in ordinary hfe, we see something of this 

 kind, and which, although of so frequent occurrence, is 

 none the less curious. Is it necessary to recall to memory 

 the dog of Ulysses, the model of fideHty; the dog of 

 Montargis, the vanquisher of crime; of Munito, the 

 brilliant player at dominoes? Must we mention the 

 Newfoundland dog and the dog of Mount St. Bernard, 

 both of them preservers of human life ? Is it necessary 

 to speak of intelligent dogs going for provisions for their 

 master, and assisting him in his duties with ability ; of 

 the shoeblack's dog, trained to plant his muddy paws on 

 the best polished boots, so as to bring more business to 

 his master, the man of the brush? We should never 

 come to an end if we attempted to register all the ex- 

 ploits of this valuable companion of man. 



Dogs are digitigrade^ or walk on their toes ; their claws 

 are not retractile — they have five toes on the fore-feet and 

 generally four on the hind ones. Their teeth are — 



The tongue of the dog is smooth, not lacerating like that 

 of the cat ; its application to wounds has a healing ten- 

 dency when the animal is in health. Dogs live on an 

 average about fourteen or fifteen years. 



