448 



THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 



in the horn; the bony projection forms the core of 

 the horn and grows uninterruptedly from the base, 

 and thereby extends in length and also in thickness 

 at the root. As it grows, new horny mass is devel- 

 oped on this bony projection along its whole length, 

 the old continually forming a firm sheath around it. 

 With the hollow-horned animals also the existing 

 older external horny coat is separated from the inner 

 bony core by the newly formed horny process, but 

 it is not shed mechanically, as with the Deer, the 

 conical shape of the parts by which union is formed 

 with the frontal bone of the head, and the firm sheath 

 of the previously grown external horny coat prevent- 

 ing the falling off of the horns. Further particular 

 characteristics of the family are, that all animals be- 

 longing to it have six incisors and two canine teeth 

 in the lower jaw, and twelve molars — six on each 

 side — in both upper and lower jaws, incisors and ca- 

 nines, however, being absent in the upper jaw, the 

 family showing great uniformity in dentition. 

 The Homed Family Nothing general can be said about 

 Have Few Features the Horned Animals, except in re- 



in Common. g arc j t o their horns and dentition. 

 The structure of the body is very variable, as the 

 family contains clumsy, bulky forms as well as 

 light and graceful ones. The shape of the horns 

 and hoofs, the length of the tail, the hairy covering 

 and color vary to a great extent. Widely different 

 as is their outward appearance, the mode of life of 

 the Bovidae presents an equally great diversity of 

 habit. Indigenous to nearly all parts of the globe, 

 with the exception of South America and Australia, 

 they divide into many species and live in all lati- 

 tudes and heights, in all regions and fields, from the 

 lonely desert to the forest gorgeous in its tropical 

 splendor, from the swampy plain to the glacier- 

 covered mountains. By far the majority of them 

 live gregariously, not a few herding in considerable 

 numbers, some at least temporarily collecting in 

 bodies, the number of the individuals composing 

 which is not approached by any similar collection of 

 mammals unless we except the gatherings of the 

 rodents. As is to be expected from their varying 

 shape, some move with a clumsy, lumbering gait, 

 while the others exhibit great speed and agility; 

 again, adapting themselves to the environment of 

 their customary haunts, some are as excellent swim- 

 mers as the others are climbers. 

 Importance to Man To Man the Bovidae are of a higher 



of the Homed and greater importance than all other 

 Animals. Ruminants, with the single exception 



of the Camels. From their number humanity has 

 reclaimed the most important domestic animals so 

 far as regards nourishment and use; to them we are 

 indebted for a material part of our usual diet and 

 our clothing; without them we would be incapable 

 of prolonging our existence. Even the untamed 

 species, enjoying unlimited freedom, are as a rule 

 more useful than otherwise, as their inroads on what 

 we term our property do not injure us as much as 

 the ravages of other large animals, and as they, by 

 giving up to our use their palatable flesh for food, 

 and other portions of their bodies for various pur- 

 poses, on the whole even more than repay for all the 

 damage the}* inflict, and as game no animals are 

 more popular than those of this family. 



The five sub-families, into which we divide the 

 Bovidae, we will call Caprinae, comprising the Goats 

 and Sheep; Ovibovinae, or Music Oxen; Bovinaa, or 

 the Ox tribe; Aplocerinae, or Mountain Goats, and 

 Antilopinae, or Antelope tribe. 



THE SHEEP AND GOAT TRIBE. 



The two kinds of Caprinae, namely the Goats and 

 the Sheep, exhibit so close an affinity to each other 

 that it seems scarcely possible to decide on special 

 distinctive features between them. 



All species of this family attain what is to be con- 

 sidered but a moderate size when compared with 

 other Ruminants; they are of sturdy and sometimes 

 even of clumsy organization, have short necks and 

 generally stout, coarse heads, low, sturdy legs with 

 comparatively obtuse hoofs, a round or broad tail 

 naked on its under surface, short or moderately long 

 ears, tolerably large eyes with obliquely placed ob- 

 long pupils, more or less compressed and angular 

 horns curving backward and outward , not infre- 

 quently spirally twisted, and more rarely conforming 

 to a lyre-shaped outline. These horns are often very 

 bulky and possessed by both sexes, though those of 

 the female are considerably shorter than those of the 

 male. The pelt, which is usually of a subdued, neu- 

 tral color, is very thick, and consists of a long outer 

 fur and a copious woolly inner layer. 



The Sheep and Goat tribe is for the greater part 

 indigenous to the regions of the north of the Old 

 World; they were originally absent in the South 

 American, Ethiopian and Australian Zones, and are 

 represented by only one native species in the North 

 American and Oriental belts, respectively. 



THE GOATS. 



The sturdy, vigorous body of the Goats (Capra),\.o 

 which we unhesitatingly concede the first place in 

 their sub-family, have a sturdy, vigorous body which 

 rests upon strong and comparatively short legs; the 

 neck is stout and the head proportionately short and 

 broad at the forehead. The tail, which is usually 

 carried erect, is triangular and devoid of hair on its 

 under surface. The eyes are large and lustrous, the 

 ears erect, acutely pointed and very mobile. The 

 horns are quadrilateral with rounded edges, or two- 

 edged with an elliptical cross-section distinctly 

 marked by rings denoting the growth of each suc- 

 ceeding year, broad and flattened on their anterior 

 surfaces and possessed by both sexes. The direc- 

 tion of the horns is either backward, with a simple, 

 crescent-shaped sweep, or they curve outwardly at 

 the tips producing a lyre-shaped contour. Those of 

 the he Goats are always much heavier than those of 

 the she Goats. The fur consists of two layers, the 

 finer woolly coat being concealed by the coarse outer 

 hair. With some species the outer fur lies tolerably 

 close to the bod)', with others it grows into a mane 

 on certain parts of the body, with most species it 

 forms a stiff beard on the chin. The hue of the fur 

 is always dull and neutral, either earthy or rock- 

 colored, brown and gray tints prevailing. Another 

 feature characteristic of these animals, is the power- 

 ful, rank odor, with which all Goats afflict our sense 

 of smell. 



Goats in a free state inhabit central and southern 

 Asia, Europe and northern Africa. Domesticated 

 species are distributed over the entire globe. They 

 are as a rule inhabitants of mountains, especially of 

 high ranges, where they affect lonely spots inacces- 

 sible to Alan. The majority of species range higher 

 than the line of perpetual snow. Sunny spots with 

 dry pasturage, thinly grown woodland glades and 

 craggy walls, as well as bare cliffs and rocks, loom- 

 ing straight above the eternal snow and ice, are their 

 favorite haunts. All species are gregarious. They 

 are active, lively, restless, intelligent and sportive 



