The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-12-20

Moles can swim with great dexterity,
their broad forepaws acting as paddles
The swordtsh does not use its terri
BILE weapon as dagger, but as fail.
Students of nature have never been
able to explain the chameleon's change
of color.
The greatest velocity attained by
whale when struck by harpoon IS nine
miles an hour.
Tusks of the mammoth have been
found of length of nine feet, measured
along the cure.
The whole body of a boa or other con-
strictor is a perfect network of power
full muscles.
The natural life of an elephant is said
to be 120 years. 1t is greatly shortened
by captivity.
Some naturalists say that the whale
was once land animal that took TO the
water for safety.
Elephants annoyed by flies have often
been known to break off a branch and
use it as fan.
Oxen and sheep are believed by some
stockmen to fatten better in company
than when kept alone.
The bones of very aged persons are
said to have a greater proportion OF
lime than those of young people.
The rhinoceros has a perfect passion
for wallowing in the mud, and is usual
ly covered with thick coat of ii.
The mole is an excellent civil en-
gineer. He always secures his own
safety by having several entrances to
his dwelling.
The lowest order of animal life is
found in the microscopic jellyfish. 1t
is simply minute drop of gelatinous
matter.
Many birds have the trick,.of tumbling
along on the ground ahead of a sports
men, in order to draw him away from
their nests.
European marmotS remain dormant
during winter. Before becoming torpid
they carefully cement the entrance to
their dwelling.
The outer layers of the alligator's
skin are said to contain large percent
age of the silica. hence the hardess of
| the animals hide.
Although on land a clumsy animal,
the seal is wonderfully quick in the wa
| ter, and in a fair race can generally
catch almost any fish.
With both the alligator and the croco.
| die the tail is the most formidable
weapon. One stroke may break the
legs of the strongest man.
1t is said that the flesh on the fore
| quarters of the beaver resembles that
of land animals, while that on the hind
| quarters has a fishy taste.
1t is believed by microscopes tha
| the highest powers of their instrument:
| have not yet revealed, the most minute
| forms of animal life.
The aye-aye of Madagascar is remark
able chiefly for its eyes, which arr
larger, in proportion to its size than
those of any other creature.
Voluntary muscles are almost always
red; involuntary muscles are generally
white, the most notable exception in
the latter case being the heart.
Snakes have the singular property of
being able to elevate the head and re-
main without the slightest movement
for many minutes at time.
A decapitated snail, kept in a moist
| place, will ina few weeks grow 4 new
head, quite as serviceable and good
looking as that which was taken away.
Cats and several other animals have
| a false eyelid, which can be drawn over
the eyeball, either to cleanse it or to
protect it from the strong light.
The muscles of pigs snout are ex-
ceedingly powerful for their size, and
thus enable the animal to turn up very
hard ground with the utmost ease.
A bat finds its way about without the
assistance of its eyes. A blinded bat
| will avoid wires and distractions as
dexterously as though ii could see per-
fectly.
When falling, as out of a tree or
down steep declivity, bears will roll
themselves into close resemblance to
huge furry ball. and thus escape with
out injury.
The mole is not blind, as many per-
sons suppose. Its eye is hardly larger
than pinhead, and is carefully pro
tected from dust and dirt by means of
enclosing hairs.
No parental care ever falls to the lot
of single member of the insect tribe.
In general the eggs of an insect are
destined to be Matched long after their
parents are dead.
The elephant is commonly supposed
to be slow, clumsy animal, but, when
excited or frightened, can attain speed
of twenty miles an hour and can keep
it up for half day.
The blessing of Palestine is Il small
falcon, or hawk, which destroys the
field mice. Were the hawks extcTmin-
ated the human population would be
obliged to abandon the country.
The common housefy is often literal
ly devoured by parasites, and it has
been proved that these parasites are
also infested with minute creatures that
threaten their destruction.
In the mountains of Sweden Norway
and Lapland all vegetation would be
destroyed by the Norway rats were it
not for the white foxes that make special
game or The rodents.
The horn of the rhinoceros does not
grow from the bone, but is ~ mere ex-
crescence of the skin, like the hair and
nails. 1t can be separated from the
skin by the use of sharp knife
The chameleon's eyes are sisnated in
bony. sockets projecting from the head.
BY this continuance the animal can see
IL Il
motion save of the eve