420 



AMERICAN CATTLE. 



stubbed, and rough horns of bulls, seldom show with any accu- 

 racy at all. Aside from the uncertainty relating to the rings in 

 old animals, they are easily rasped, or scraped off by designing 

 men a thing very often done with a view to falsify their true 

 ages so that no positive test of age may be looked after in that 

 feature. 



THE TEETH MARKS, 



However, are a sure indication of age up to seven, eight, or even 

 ten years. We find this whole subject of the teeth -so well dis- 

 cussed in Youatt, that we offer no apology for giving his gene- 

 rally correct authority entire: 



"The mouth of the new-born 

 calf presents an uncertain ap- 

 pearance, depending on the 

 mother having exceeded, or fal- 

 len short of the average period 

 of utero-gestation. Sometimes 

 there will be no vestige of 

 Birth. Second week. teeth, but generally, either two 



central incisors will be protruding through the gums, or they will 

 have arisen and attained considerable bulk. 



"At the expiration of the third week the animal will have 



six temporary incisors or 

 front teeth. 



"At a month, the full 

 number of incisors will 

 have appeared. These 

 are the temporary or milk 

 teeth. The enamel will be 



Third week. Month. seen covering the whole 



of the crown of the tooth, but not entering into its composition 

 as in the horse, and it will be observed that the edge is exceed- 

 ingly sharp. The only indication of increasing age, will be the 



