292 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



the snout projecting behind. In this position, it would lead 

 anyone to suppose that the head was where the tail really 

 is, and that when looking at the creature's hinder part, they 

 were looking at its head ; and the sudden reversal of the 

 position of these parts, when it gets up quickly, is certainly 

 extremely ridiculous. 



5. The HUMES- ANTIA. The Euminating animals (fig. 63) 

 are those which chew the cud. There are a great many species, 

 and their members are also very numerous. The Ox, and its 

 varieties, the Buffalo, Bison, Yak, &c. ; the Deer, Antelopes, 

 Gazelles, &c. ; the Sheep, Goat, Giraffe, and Camel, all 

 belong to the Euminants. These all have hoofs, cloven 

 into two parts ; have no incisor (or front) teeth in the 

 upper jaw; and are essentially grazing animals. They have 

 stomachs made up of four compartments ; into the first of 

 these (the Rumen) the crude grass enters, and is after- 

 wards returned to the mouth, and again chewed at leisure ; 

 the molar teeth, or grinders, are flat, and roughened, so as 

 to effect this purpose ; and, that they may not become 

 smooth by wear, the enamel (or hard part) of the teeth 

 is so disposed in various layers, that it is always projecting 

 above the bony part, which wears down first. The 

 Kuminants are gregarious, associating in herds of enormous 

 numbers. Gumming, describes the herds of Springboks, in 

 South Africa, as being in countless thousands, continuing 

 to pass for hours together ; and covering the plain as far 

 as the eye could reach. Cattlin, also, describes the Ameri- 

 can Bison of the Prairies as being congregated in the most 

 surprising numbers. Some of the members of this order are 

 very large and heavy animals. The Cape Buffalo is of enor- 

 mous strength, and very fierce when attacked. 



Dr. Livingstone, in his Travels in South Africa, speaking 

 of the Lion, says : " He seldom attacks full-grown Buffalos ; 

 but frequently, when a Buffalo-calf is caught by him, the 

 cow rushes to the rescue, and a toss from her often kills 

 him. One we found was killed thus, and on the Leambye, 

 another ,which died near Sesheke, had all the appearance of 

 having received his death-blow from a Buffalo. It is ques- 



