INTRODUCTION. 



RUMINANTIA is the term used by naturalists to de- 

 signate those mammiferous quadrupeds which chew the 

 cud; or, in other words, which swallow their food, in 

 the first instance, with a very slight mastication, and 

 afterwards regurgitate it, in order that it may undergo 

 a second and more complete mastication : this second 

 operation is called ruminating, or chewing the cud. 

 The order of animals which possess this peculiarity, is 

 divided into nine groups or genera, namely : 



CAMELS. DEER. GOATS. 



LLAMAS. GIKAFFES. SHEEP. 



MUSKS. ANTELOPES. OXEN. 



The last named forms the subject of the following 

 pages, and is called, in zoological language, the Genus 

 Bos, in popular language, the Ox TRIBE. 



One of the most interesting occupations which the 

 wide field of Zoology offers to the naturalist, is the 

 investigation of those remarkable adaptations of organs 

 to functions, and of these again to the necessities and 

 well-being of the entire animal. Nor does it in the 

 least diminish our interest in the investigation of indi- 



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