DENTITION OF CATTLE 515 



porary incisors are cast and replaced by the lateral permanent 

 incisors, and a little earlier or at the same time, the 3rd temporary 

 molar disappears, and its place is taken by the 3rd permanent 

 molar. Lastly, at three years and three months, or three years 

 and six months, the two corner temporary incisor teeth fall out and 

 are replaced by the corner permanent incisors. 



The perfect mouth consists of eight cutting or 

 incisory teeth in the under jaw, and none in the upper, 

 with six grinders or molar teeth on each side, both in 

 the upper and lower jaw, making a total of thirty-two 

 teeth. At three years, the horns are furnished with a 

 wrinkle at their base, and every succeeding year they 

 acquire an additional wrinkle ; so that after the 

 animal has reached its third year, its age may at once 

 be ascertained by counting the wrinkles or circles at 

 the base of the horns. In some cattle these wrinkles 

 are not so apparent as in others ; and many un- 

 principled dealers file down some of the wrinkles when 

 they wish to pass off old cattle for young ones, and 

 thus deceive those who are unsuspicious of the imposi- 

 tion. But experienced persons may detect the trick 

 by a close examination of the horns, as it is hardly 

 possible to perform this unworthy trick in so nice a 

 manner as to give the part which has been rasped 

 down the natural appearance of the horn. 



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