Lesson 09 The Dog

The boys came home one day full of delight. Teacher had been giving them a lesson on the dog. As they had a faithful old dog of their own, the lesson pleased them very much.

Shall we bring Ponto in, and have a chat about him? said Fred. Of course they all said "yes," and a minute or two later the children were sitting on the floor with Ponto in the middle.

Now first of all, sister, what does Ponto like best for dinner? said Fred.

He likes a piece of meat better than anything, said Norah.

Yes, said Fred, "the dog, like the cat, is a flesh-eater."

Open your mouth, Ponto, and let us have a look at your teeth, old boy. Look, Norah, his teeth are sharp and pointed. They are just like the cat's teeth. They are made for cutting through flesh, not for chewing or grinding. The lower jaw has only one movement—up and down.

So far the dog is very like the cat, said Norah.

Now let us look a little farther, said Fred. "Ponto's head is not like the cat's head. It is longer and more pointed. If you notice his eyes, you will see that they have no curtain in front, no long narrow slit, like the cat's eyes."

Now let us have a word about his feet. Hold up your paw, Ponto. That's right, good dog.

If we look at all his paws, we shall see that, like the cat, he has five toes on the front and four on the hind ones.

Yes, cried Norah, "and the toes are padded. Does Ponto walk on his toes, too, Fred?"

Yes, the dog walks on his toes.

But, said his sister again, "I can hear Ponto's feet on the ground as he runs. I can't hear the cat's feet. How is it, if both of them have pads, Fred?"

Ah, said Fred, "if you look you will see that Ponto cannot draw back his claws as the cat does. The claws rub the ground at every step, and make a noise."

There is just one thing more, Fred went on. "The dog's tongue is soft, smooth, and wet, not rough like the cat's tongue. He does not use it as the cat does."

I am going to tell you something very funny though. The dog perspires through his tongue. The sweat never comes out on his skin. When you see Ponto lying down in the sun, with his tongue lolling out, you will know what it means now, Norah.

SUMMARY

The dog, like the cat, is fond of a piece of raw meat. He is a flesh-eater. His teeth are just like the cat's teeth. His jaw, too, has only one movement—up and down. He does not chew his food. His teeth are for cutting flesh, not for chewing. The dog's eyes have no curtain in front, and the pupil is never a long, narrow slit. He walks on his toes, and his toes are padded. He cannot draw his claws back. He makes a noise when he walks. His tongue is not rough, like the cat's tongue. The dog perspires through his tongue.