262 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



Greyhound, 



The dog's body is long, lean, and 

 very muscular, a fat dog being 

 usually pampered and old. The 

 coat is of hair and is not of fine fur 

 like that of the cat. It is of inter- 

 est to note that the Newfoundland 

 dog has an inner coat of fine hair 

 comparable to that of the mink or 

 muskrat. When a dog is running, 

 his body is extended to its fullest 

 length; in fact, it seems to "lie 

 flat," the outstretched legs height- 

 ening the effect of extreme muscular 

 effort of forward movement. A 

 dog is master of several gaits; he 

 can run, walk, trot, botmd and 

 crawl. 



The iris of the dog's eye is 

 usually of a beautiful brown, al- 

 though this varies with breeds; in 

 puppies, the iris is usually blue. The pupil is round like our own; and 

 dogs cannot see well in the dark like the cat, but in daylight they have 

 keen sight. The nose is so 

 much more efficient than the 

 eyes, that it is on the sense of 

 smell the dog depends for fol- 

 lowing his prey and for recog- 

 nizing friend and foe. The 

 damp, soft skin that covers 

 the nose, has in its dampness 

 the conditions for carrying 

 the scent to the wide nostrils; 

 these are situated at the most 

 forward part of the face, and 

 thus may be lifted in any 

 direction to receive the mar- 

 velous impressions, so com- 

 pletely beyond our compre- 

 hension. Think of being able 

 to scent the track of a fox 

 made several hours previously. 

 Not only to scent it, but to 

 follow by scent for many miles without ever having a glimpse of the fleeing 

 foe! In fact, while running, the dog's attention seems to be focused 

 entirely upon the sense of smell, for I have seen hounds pass within a few 

 rods to the windward of the fox they were chasing, without observing him 

 at all. When the nose of any of the moist-nosed beasts, such as cattle 

 and dogs, becomes dry it is a sign of illness. 



A light fall of damp snow gives the dog the best conditions for follow- 

 ing a track by scent and a hound, when on the trail, will run until ex- 

 hausted. There are many authentic observations which show that 

 hounds have followed a fox for twenty-four hours without food, and 

 probably with little rest. 



Bird dog. 



