Mrs. Loudon's Entertaining Naturalist: Being popular descriptions, tales, and anecdotes of more than Five Hundred Animals.Loudon, Mrs. (Jane)
General
Mrs. Loudon's Entertaining Naturalist: Being popular descriptions, tales, and anecdotes of more than Five Hundred Animals.
Loudon, Mrs. (Jane)
Animals -- Juvenile literature; Zoology -- Juvenile literature
In the eye of the Cat, the pupil is perpendicularly oval, extending from
above downwards, and when contracted appears like a straight line. This
conformation is suited to the habits of these animals, for they are not
content with prowling along the ground, but occasionally spring to great
heights, their heads being directed upwards, and their eyes placed in
front and more nearly parallel. This structure of the eyes occurs in all
the Cat tribe.
[Illustration: THE WILD CAT. (_Felis Catus._)]
THE WILD CAT is a native of the forests of Europe, and was formerly
abundant in Britain, but is now confined to some of the wilder parts of
this country. It is a stouter and more powerful animal than the domestic
Cat, and is of a greyish colour with black stripes, something like an
ordinary tabby. It is a fierce creature, and is very destructive to
birds and small quadrupeds.
THE DOG. (_Canis familiaris._)
TO no animal is mankind so much indebted for its services and affection
as to the Dog. Among all the various orders of brute creatures, none
have hitherto been found so entirely adapted to our use, and even to our
protection, as this. There are many countries, both of the old and new
continent, in which, if man were deprived of this faithful ally, he
would unsuccessfully resist the foes that surround him, seeking
opportunities to encroach upon his property, destroy his labour, and
attack his person. His own vigilance, in many situations, could not
secure him, on the one hand, against their rapacity, nor, on the other,
against their speed. The Dog, more tractable than any other animal,
conforms himself to the movements and habits of his master. His
diligence, his ardour, and his obedience are inexhaustible; and his
disposition is so friendly, that, unlike every other animal, he seems to
remember only the benefits he receives: he soon forgets our blows; and
instead of discovering resentment while we chastise him, exposes himself
to torture, and even licks the hand from which it proceeds.
Dogs, even of the dullest kind, seek the company of other animals; and
by instinct take to the care of flocks and herds.
THE SHEPHERD’S DOG.
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