90 NATURAL HISTORY. 



pouches ; and then, retiring to a secluded place among 

 their mountain fastnesses, they masticate their aliment 

 in comparative security. Moreover, the maceration (or 

 soaking) in the fluids of the first and second stomachs, to 

 which the food has been subjected, causes it to be much 

 more readily ground down than if it were triturated im- 

 mediately on being first cropped from the pasture." 



156. There is an obvious adaptation of the structure 

 of the Ruminants to the habits just stated. That they 

 may quickly perceive the approach of an enemy their 

 senses are extremely acute. Their eyes are placed at the 

 side of the head rather than in front, which affords them 

 a great range of vision. Besides this, the pupils of the 

 eyes have an oval shape, extending horizontally, instead 

 of up and down, as we see it in the Cat.* This increases 

 the range of sight in the rear direction. The ears are 

 placed far back, and can be readily turned to any quar- 

 ter. This is quite essential in fleeing from their pursuers. 

 In order that they may flee swiftly they have long legs, 

 and are for the most part slender in form. When there 

 is an accumulation of flesh and fat, making the animal 

 bulky and slow in motion, it is commonly owing to the 

 influence of domestication. Though the Ruminants are 

 generally timid animals, the means of defense which they 

 have in their horns and hoofs some of them are disposed 

 to use sometimes in offensive warfare, at least among 

 each other. 



157. The family Bovida? (Bos, an Ox) is distinguished 

 from the other families of this order by the uniform pres- 

 ence of horns in both sexes, and by the bulkiness of their 

 forms. The common Ox is diffused widely in all quar- 

 ters of the globe, and has a great variety of breeds. I 

 will notice only one. The Bos Indicus, the Zebu, or 



* The reason for this shape of the pupil in the cat and other ani- 

 mals of the feline tribe is obvious. In taking its prey the animal has 

 need of a good range of vision up and down, or vertically, rather than 

 laterally, especially if its prey be on any height, as a tree. 



