Animal of the day: pugilistic pug

This fighting-fit pug is from an 1892 issue of St. Nicholas magazine. The illustration accompanied a poem titled "The Boastful Pug." Proclaiming himself the "champion of all the little dogs" he throws out a challenge ...

 And the Maltese cat, from a safe place, said:

"To spar with you I'll agree."

"Come down on the ground, then," said the pug;

Said the cat: "You come up in the tree!"