The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-02

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 moist
place, will in few weeks grow a 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 a 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 it's way about without the
assistance of it's eyes. A blinded bat
will avoid wires and distractions as
dexterously as though it could see per-
fectly.
When falling, as out of a tree or
down steep declivity, bears will roHl
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 a 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 hatched long after their
parents are dead.
The elephant is commonly supposed
to be a 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 small
falcon, or hawk, which destroys the
field mice. Were the hawks extermin-
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 il
not for the white foxes that make special
game of the rodents.
The horn of the rhinoceros does not
grow from the bone, but is a 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 situated in
bony sockets projecting from the head
By this contrivance the animal can see
in any direction without the slightest
motion save of the eye.
The habit of turning around three OF
four times before lying down has sur
vived in the domestic dog from his say.
age ancestry. 1t then served to break
down the grass and make bed.
Were it not for the multitude of stork.
that throng to Egypt every winter
there would be no living in the country
for after every inundation frogs appear
in most incredible numbers.
The blood flows almost as freely
through the bones as through the iesl
, of very young children, but as age
, comes on. the blood vessels in the bone
J are filled with matter.
A curious partnership often exists be
tween the sea anemone and the hermit
crab. The latter always has an anemon,
fastened to his shell, and when h,
changes his quarters he takes hi
anemone along provided he can detacl
it from the old shell.
The serpent moves by elevating the
scales on its abdomen and using then
to push the body forward. The wind
ings are always horizontal. The art
a lists who represent the sinuosities a
vertical have never observed the anima
in motion. 1t is impossible for it t
move in that way.