File:Little folks in feathers and fur, and others in neither (1875) (14597490428).jpg

Identifier: littlefolksinfea00mill (find matches)
Title: Little folks in feathers and fur, and others in neither
Year: 1875 (1870s)
Authors: (Miller, Harriet (Mann) Mrs.), 1831- (from old catalog)
Subjects: Zoology
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Dustin, Gilman & co. Cincinnati, Ohio, Queen city publishing co. (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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Other cousins—a little more distant—are Prairie Dogs, wholive in regular settlements called Prairie Dog Towns, away out onour prairies. They too dig comfortable homes under ground, andso large, and so near together are they, that horses often breakthrough and hurt themselves, besides spoiling the poor little PrairieDogs house. Theres a curious thing about this home. It is also the resi-dence of the ugly rattlesnake, and the burrowing owl. WhetherMadame Prairie Dog takes them as boarders was the question ioisome time, but on studying a little into the matter, and finding the IN FEATHERS AND FUR. 35 bones of baby Prairie Dogs in the snakes stomach, naturalistscame to the conclusion that the reptile, at least, is not an invitedguest, but an ugly thief, who not only forces his company on anunwilling family, but steals, and eats the babies for his breakfast. So the poor little Prairie Dog Mamma has her troubles, yousee—like other four footed Mammas all over the world. 36 LITTLE FOLKS
Text Appearing After Image:
THE ODDEST OF ALE I think we may safely call this the very oddest creature thatever lived. He has a bill like a bird, fur like a beast, and he swimslike a fish, and climbs like an animal. He is so strange looking that dogs bark at him, and cats putup their backs and spit, and Im sure no one can blame them. He comes from Australia, and his name is either Duckbill,Water Mole, Mallangong, Tambreet, Tohunbuck, Platypus, or Or-nithorhynchus paradoxus,—whichever you like. For my use, theEnglish Duckbill is good enough, so I shall call him by that, if heis a full blooded Australian. There are other curious things about him besides his bill. Tobegin with, theres his fur coat. In fact, you may say he wears twocoats. Next to his skin is a thick woolly fur which keeps out the IN FEATHERS AND FUR. 37 water perfectly, and outside of that are long hairs, so slender wherethey join the skin, that they will turn equally well either way. Youcouldnt stroke a duckbill the wrong way, as you can your kit

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