NV I LD I.I F K I N N K \V / i; A [.AND . 



CHAPTER IV. 



UNGULAT-A DKI-IJ. 



all the other ungulates which liave 



introduced into X-w Zealand and have become established 



belong to the group of ruminants, or ruminating animals. 



The\ .died because they " ruminate that is. after the 



ha- been rapidly swallowed it is forced hack up the gullet 



and more thoroughly masticated. Belonging to this m-oup we 



deal with deer. oxen, iroats. and sheep. These animals 



the following /oolo^ieal characters: They have all two 



di^r on the feet, which are therefore popularly known as 



"cloven." They have no upper incisor teeth, and the canines 



in the upper jaw are frequently wanting. They are furnished 



with horns a very special characterist ic soiiu t imes only on the 



males, sometimes on both sexes. The stomach has four chain! 



lirst is tin- larL r e paunch, i.r rumen, the oriran which in cattle 

 lutes the well known article of food termed "tripe." This 

 op< ii- into a smaller la^. the rcticulum. or honeycoml) liar, SO 

 railed on account ..!' the network ai'ra nireiiient of the folds or r 

 of the mucous membrane which lines it. Tin- reticulum opens into 

 the psaltcriMiii. or " many-plies." a irlobular orran. flu- interior of 

 which is tilled with folds, or laminae, which arc- arranged like the 

 leaves of ;i hook, and very close to-jcthei'; hence lioth the technical 

 and popular name.-. The fourth chaml)ei- is the ahomasum. or reed. 

 Med the rennet stomach. This is the stomach proper, 

 in which the digestion of the food is carried on. and it is the parr 

 which \\hen removed from calves is employed for the curdling of 

 milk. 



dist in-ui-hed from all other ruminants liy the pr 

 hich in all our introduced forma OCCUI in the i 



nlilv MM M antlei'v MS. In the coin- 



nt of the sjiriiiL' a pair of knolis is to lie seen upon the 



head of the adult male animal. This j s covt-n-il with a nearly 



in the midd 1 ' 

 . w!ii-h i< that 1. ft l.y th.- antler of th. year before when it 



