Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . remain. 313. The tiger, as well as the lion, follows the track of the jackal,and robs it of prey. The idea that the jackal is instinctively thelions provider is one of the ingenious fictions that gather aroundevery imperfect history. 314. Why has the Nubian ferret valves to its ears? Because it burrows in sandy ground; the peculiar struc-ture of its
Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . remain. 313. The tiger, as well as the lion, follows the track of the jackal,and robs it of prey. The idea that the jackal is instinctively thelions provider is one of the ingenious fictions that gather aroundevery imperfect history. 314. Why has the Nubian ferret valves to its ears? Because it burrows in sandy ground; the peculiar struc-ture of its ears is therefore adapted to preserve those mostimportant organs. 315. The ferret has unusually large ears, which renders it more than ordinarily liable to in-convenience while burrowing insandy ground. The valve ofthe ear, as it has been termed,consists of a plait or fold, whichshows itself externally at thebottom. The interior bordersof the ears are covered withthick white hair, but the mid-dle part is bare, and of a pinkor rose color. The auditorycells of the ferret are largerthan those of the common fox,though the former is two-thirdsless than the fox in size. Itis probable that the ferret hears much more acutely than most ? Youatt on the Dog. KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 103 Out, out, hyena; these thy wonted arts,And ^rts of every woman false like thee;To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray,Then as repentant to submit.—Milton. 316. Why are hyenas denominated scavengers? Because they are so vora-cious that they will feedupon putrefying substances., They therefore clear awayputrid carcases which in ahot climate would producedangerous consequences tomankind. 317. As carrion feeders, tfieyseem destined to fill up an im-portant station in the economy ofnature, by clearing the earth ofthe decaying carcases of beasts,whose remains might otherwise infect the air with pestilential numbers is commensurate to the importance of their office; alth
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1916
