DOGS AND THEIR PARASITES.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1032, 4 February 1879, Page 2

DOGS AND THEIR PARASITES.

The dog is a singularly domestic animal—the flea is pluraliy so. The laoter may be said to be the dog's inseparable companion, adhering to him in prosperity and adversity with a devotion rarely met with in friendship as it ia usually developed among the nominally nobler anima.'s. Acute obdervers have, indeed, discovered that in proportion as a dog is neglected by his owner the number of those lively and. sympathetic adherents is sure to increase. It is sad to reflect *that adversity has quite an opposite effect on mankind, the number of their companions and dependents dwindling away as fortune ceases to smile on them. It may, however, be objected that the tie which binds the flea to his cauine companion savors more of blood than of friendship, and we featherless bipeds are all a-.vare that there is a great difference between a blood relanou and a friend. But even if we grant, that the motives of the insect aro nob altog. ther disinterested, •nany instance* of the beneficial effects of thin seemingly ill-assorted com par ionahip could be adduced. In how many instances, has the dog received credit for his sleeploss devotion to the interests of his master, which, if the truth were known, would redound to the glory of his humble but active companion? In how many cases would not Cerborus have slumbured, and allowed the midnight depredator to rifle his master's treasures had not these in. sects " kept him up to the scratch ?" We would also claim for the flea, a deterrent, as well as a stimulative influence on his shaggy companion. Who can calcu'ate the amount of wanton mischief and unnecessary lurking on the part of young and giddy, or old and over-zsalous dogs which has been prevented by tho unflagging interest which the flea causes the dog to take in his own person, especially about the bead and the outlying districts of his flanks? The amount of concentrated energy \ iaiblo in the countenance of the most un-intellectual cur, when engaged in a skirmish of this nature, i-« a sight well worthy of our observation. The man who could conjure up an expression ot such intense earnestness, when in the pursuit of his ordinary avocation, might, indeed, have a great future before him.

lien tie or ferocious render, if you have been :«ccuscomed to despise and "dislike the small but painfully active companions of your oaniue friends, we hope you will now think better of them. Doubtless when you have had occasion with wary eye, nimble fiuger and rewdy thumb nail to pur* sac the asjile disturber of your slumber and irritator of your epidermis, you may have been sorely tempted to deny that such an insect could have been created for any good and wise purpose. Now, however, having pointed out a few of its bene, ficial influences, the writer fondly hopes that you will be able to make researches amongst your garments and bed-liuen in a more christian frame of mind, singing softly the while—

How doth the little busy flea, Delight to jump and bite, And keep us scratching all the day, And sleepless, all the night. Q.X. Waikato, January 24th. •