First lesson in zoology : adapted for use in schools . olor is dueto the coloring matter deposited just within the layer ofscales. We also see that pussys hairs are directed back-wards on the trunk, so that-^e can stroke her soft fur fromthe head to the tail, but on her limbs the hairs usually 218 FIB8T LESSONS IN ZOOLOGY. point downwards. We notice some long hairs inside of theears, and a few oyer each eye, but there are no true eye-lashes or eyebrows. The whiskers consist of about a dozenvery large stifE hairs on each side of the upper lip; these ex-tend out beyond the body and are very sens
First lesson in zoology : adapted for use in schools . olor is dueto the coloring matter deposited just within the layer ofscales. We also see that pussys hairs are directed back-wards on the trunk, so that-^e can stroke her soft fur fromthe head to the tail, but on her limbs the hairs usually 218 FIB8T LESSONS IN ZOOLOGY. point downwards. We notice some long hairs inside of theears, and a few oyer each eye, but there are no true eye-lashes or eyebrows. The whiskers consist of about a dozenvery large stifE hairs on each side of the upper lip; these ex-tend out beyond the body and are very sensitive, so that thecat can feel her way through narrow places. A cat is verydependent upon her whiskers for a knowledge of what isnear her. Every part of the body, however, is not coveredwith hairs; they would be useless on the end of the nose, onthe lips, and the foot-pads, which are naked. How usefulthe hair really is to a mammal is proved by the fact thatall, with rare exceptions, are hairy. The cats eyes are large and rather wide apart, and placea. Fio. 223.—Cats muzzle, with whiskers and naked skin about the nostrils. in roomy orbits; besides the upper and lower lid, there is,as in the birds, a nictitating membrane which rises from theinner angle of the eye, and can be drawn over the red portion lining the eyelids and corners of the eye iscalled the conjunctiva ; over the ball of the eye it is trans-parent and colorless. The pupil is the central part ofthe eye; it is surrounded by the iris, which varies muchin color and can contract in the light, or expand in dark-ness. In a bright light the iris closes so as to leave only anarrow vertical chink. We thus see how perfectly the catseye is adapted to its habits of night prowling. In none of the backboned animals previously mentionedis there a well-formed outer ear; but that of the cat is large THE CAT AS A TTPE OF TEE MAMMALS. 219 and full, with its deep hollow directed forwards and out-wards.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1894
