424 



AMERICAN CATTLE. 



have disappeared, and the tooth that is to remain until the next 

 year, are huddled together and concealed behind the new per- 

 manent tooth. They are often a source of annoyance to the 

 animal; and the tooth whose turn it was to go must be drawn. 



The four year old mouth 

 then, as represented in this 

 cut, should contain six per- 

 manent incisors and two 

 milk teeth. 



"At the commencement 

 of the fifth year, the eight 

 Four years. Five years. permanent incisors will be 



up; but the corner ones will be small. This cut gives a five 

 year old mouth, or perhaps one a month or two after five years; 

 so that the beast cannot be said to be full-mouthed, i.e., all the 

 incisors fully up, until it is six years old. It will be seen, how- 

 ever, in this mouth of five years, that the two central pairs are 

 beginning to be worn down at the edges, and that in a flat 

 direction, or somewhat inclined towards the inside. 



"At six years old, the teeth are fully grown, but this mark 

 has extended over the whole set, and all the teeth are a little 

 flattened at the top; while on the two center ones there begins 

 to be a distinct darker line in the middle, bounded by a line of 

 harder bone.* 



"From this time the age can only be guessed at, and not 

 decidedly affirmed; and a great deal will depend upon the man- 

 ner in which the animal is fed. The beast that is most out, and 



" * We are perfectly aware against what authority we are contending, when we 

 thus compute the age of cattle by the appearance of the teeth. The pleasing author 

 of the 'Illustrations of Natural History,' gives the beast a full mouth at three years 

 old, and so does Buffon, and the editor of the Encyclopedia Metropolitan:!. Mr. 

 Parkinson says that the month is full at four, although he acknowledges that the 

 teeth are not perfectly up until the animal is six years old. We have no hesitation, 

 however, in appealing to the experience of the breeders of cattle, for the general 

 accuracy of our account." 



