226 NEW ZEALAND NATURE-STUDY BOOK 
Loose Skin. The skin of a Cat is attached to the 
underlying flesh by loose tissue, so that large folds of it 
can be pulled away from the body. The skin of a Horse or 
a Cow on the other hand grows closely to the flesh. ‘To 
animals belonging to the same family as the Cat, a loose 
skin is of great advantage, as when seized it yields and is 
dragged round—the sharp claws being unable to obtain 
any hold on the flesh. 
The Cat and the Dog—a comparison and a 
contrast.—These animals are so commonly kept as pets, 
and so well known, that they offer special facilities for 
examination. ‘They possess, moreover, many points of 
resemblance, and at the same time differ from each other in 
so many particulars that they afford a useful exercise in 
the methods of comparison and contrast, which lie at the 
root of all successful work in Nature-study. 
Covering.—The Cat’s body, as we have seen, is covered 
with fur, whereas that of the Dog is supplied with a coat of 
rough hair. ‘The fur of the Cat is dry, and being free from 
oily matter is soon injured by the wet—hence the animal’s 
aversion for water. ‘The hair of the Dog on the other hand 
dries quickly after being wet, and, moreover, is protected 
by an oily matter secreted by the skin. Then again the 
whiskers of the Cat are long—whilst those of the dog, whose 
mode of life does not require their aid, are comparatively 
short. 
The Head of the Cat is short and round, whereas the 
Dog’s head is long and pointed. In each case the jaws 
are armed with sharp powerful teeth —very similar in shape 
and structure—those of the Cat being sharper and more 
pointed. 
The Eyes of both animals are round; but those of 
the Cat are more sensitive to light. The pupil of the Cat’s 
eye, when exposed to a strong light, is contracted so as to 
