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HOTSPUR

HOUSE-PETS

Hot'spur, Harry. See PERCY.

Hottentots (hbt't'n-tots), a people who were in possession of Cape Colony, Africa, before the settlement by the whites. The name was given by the Dutch to the real Hottentot and to the Bushman, though they are distinct families. In number there are about 17,000 Hottentots proper and 100,000 half-breeds. They are of medium stature, have light-brown skin, hair growing in woolly knobs, high cheek bones and small hands and feet. Their language consisted of three dialects, but since the advent of white men (1652) they have adopted the languages, dress, manners and vices of the Europeans. See History of SoiUh Africa by Theal and Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa by Alexander.

Hour'glass, a device of two glass bulbs connected by a very narrow and short neck, having in one bulb a sufficient amount of colored sand, which, in running from one bulb to the other, marks an hour. It was in use by the ancients even long before the sundial, and in the i6th and iyth centuries often stood on the pulpits of churches to measure the length of the sermon, where its falling sands were watched by anxious eyes. The three-minute glass, on the same principle, is often seen nowadays.

Housatonic (hdd-sa-tonf%k) River, about 150 miles in length, rises in Massachusetts, and, flowing through Connecticut, discharges into Long Island Sound. It affords water-power to many manufacturing villages. The scenery along its course is very beautiful.

House=Pets may vary extremely in purely utilitarian value, but all have certain values in bringing out in children qualities of kindness, sympathy and appreciation of responsibility; and the value of pets may vary in the degree to which they serve this latter end. While pets, as pets, may range from toads to horses, household pets include a rather definite circle of animal life: those which more strictly share the domicile of human creatures, as dogs and cats, and those kept in near proximity, as rabbits, guineapigs etc.

House-pets, strictly, may be narrowed to include only canaries, parrots, cats and the smaller breeds of dogs. Large dogs, rabbits, guineapigs, squirrels, poultry and pigeons belong to the household but not in the house. As to use, dogs might be classed as watchdogs, companions for children, sheepdogs and hunting-dogs, the qualities of the last two not being necessarily related to any desirability as house-pets. The most effective watchdogs are those kept inside at night, away from certain persuasions of evildoers; such dogs are fox, bull, airedale and other terriers, the spitz and poodle, all being active, alert and intelligent. Valuable outside watchdogs are the Great Dane, bred to this for generations, the English mastiff and the Newfoundland. As

companions and protectors of children the favorites are the St. Bernard, the English mastiff and the Newfoundland, though certain families of the latter may show uncertain tempers. The dachshund has special ability in protecting poultry from skunks, weasels etc. Aside from his herding abilities, the Scotch collie is a great favorite of young children. Certain of the terriers, small spaniels and pugs seem to be of little use except as ornaments and pets. The cocker, one of the spaniels, is in many respects almost as good a general purpose dog as the collie or Newfoundland. Dogs should not be overfed, or be given sweet or greasy food; but the diet should be a mixed one. Too much meat makes them smell "doggy." Small bones are apt to be splintered in chewing, and so choke the dog. Prof. Hodge has aptly said: "A gnawing-bone is the dog's tooth-brush and should be kept well-supplied at all times, both for business and amusement." A dog is the best kind of a flea-trap. A castile or ivory soap lather will kill the fleas, and should be given for the dog's sake once a week in summer and once a month in winter. But one person should have the care and training of a dog. "A whip ruins more dogs than it cures." Yelling at a dog and chasing him make him nervous. Give praise when deserved. Tricks should be taught alone in a quiet place, always repeating the command in the same words, with rewards of food for the effort made by the dog. (See DOG).

"The cat is the only animal that has been tolerated, esteemed and, at times, worshipped, without a distinctly valuable quality" (Prof. Shaler). Cats have the advantage of being cleaner and less boisterous than dogs. Cats need access to fresh water and to grass or catnip, which is their medicine. The system of a cat that has been catching mice does better when supplied with milk. Abundant feeding prevents the killing of birds and chickens — and also of mice. A cat kills, on an average, 50 songbirds a year, and a single cat has been known to destroy six nests in a day. (For-bush.) The cat returns readily to the wild state, whereas the wild dog eems to be an extinct species. White cats, while more docile than black ones, have weaker constitutions. Of the Maltese or "blue" cats, the blue-eyed ones are favorites and hardy. The long-haired varieties are better pets than short-haired ones, but are not so good mousers and possibly are less hardy. The artificial conditions of their life are very conducive to tuberculosis, as shown by the large percentage having nodules on the intestines and lungs. Cats and dogs that run loose and have access to garbage are possibly dangerous carriers of disease; children should not be permitted to fondle either about the face. (See CAT.)