HOW DO DOGS PERSPIRE? [To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."
J Sin„—I come forward very late with a correction, having only recently observed your notice of my " Silverado Squatters.' Your critic quotes my words that a dog "would be often wet with sweat;" and on the strength of a common opinion,. simply denies the fact. I have now the pleasure of repeating- my statement. To take but one crucial instance. The first time that dog was ever in a train, he was in great fear, and, sit- ting in my wife's lap, became gradually wet from end to end. So much for the old wives' story that dogs sweat only by the- tongue. Your critic should have observed that I had used, and he quoted, the word "often." A writer of ordinary ability may be: supposed to know the value of so plain a phrase. Perhaps some of your readers may be able to throw light upon the point in question,—which is not whether dogs sweat only by the tongue,. bat whether they sweat by the tongue at all. A dog, when he. is hot, is seen frequently to moisten his tongue, which meritsi some reflection.—I am, Sir, &c., Hyeres, April 18th. ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
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