AGE OF ANIMALS. 207 



strongly modified by his peculiar condition, as to be totally 

 unlike that of the bull, the rings scarcely appearing at all. 



The above rule would enable one to tell the age of the ani- 

 mal with unerring certainty, were the growth of the horns 

 in each animal uniform and the rings distinct, which is not 

 always the case; the rings often being confused and indis- 

 tinct, and the growth of the horns varying in different ani- 

 mals. Besides, knavish cattle dealers often rasp off several 

 of the rings of old and unsalable cows, and so smooth the 

 rest of the horns as to make them look in keeping with 

 their pretensions. 



A safer rule is afforded by the teeth. At birth the two cen- 

 tre teeth (front) protrude through the gum ; at the end of 

 the second week the second pair appear ; at the end of the 

 third week the third pair, and at the end of the fourth week 

 the fourth and last pair. The wearing of these teeth now 

 constitutes the only guide for the next three months, at the 

 expiration of which time all these (which are called the 

 " milk teeth ") begin to diminish in size and shrink away 

 from each other, which process continues until the animal is 

 two years old, when the new teeth begin to push out the 

 slender remnants of the old and shrunken ones. At the end 

 of the second year the first two permanent teeth appear in 

 front; at three years the second pair are well up: at four 

 the third pair, and at five years the fourth and last pair, 

 have appeared, and the central pair are beginning to become 

 worn down : at six years the last pair are full sized : at seven 



