

RUMINANTIA. 217 



the muzzle is large ; the. neck thick, deep and compressed, its 

 skin forming a pendulous dewlap ; the body is heavy and mas- 

 sive ; the limbs stout ; there is a distinct ridge upon the back, 

 which is sometimes produced into a dorsal hump ; the expression 

 of the countenance is often, particularly in the males, malignant 

 and threatening, betokening the ferocity that belongs to several 

 of the species; the Cow and Ox, however, exhibit a quiet, 

 decided gentleness of physiognomy. The oxen are social in 

 their habits ; and some are gregarious, associating in immense 

 herds, as the Bison or Buffalo. The organs of digestion in this 

 family are after the same plan as those of the other ruminant, or 

 cud-chewing animals, and need not be here particularly de- 

 scribed. The main food of the Ox family is herbivorous ; for 

 although they do browse upon shrubs and trees, yet grass and 

 herbage they prefer. (For the kind of teeth in this family, see 

 Plate IV. fig. 10.) When hungry, they have been known to feed 

 on plants not designed for their use, and by which they have been 

 injured. Meadow-Saffron, (colchicum autumnalej) for instance, is 

 deleterious to them if taken in any large quantity ; and Hellebore, 

 (Helleborus,) is said to be poisonous to them ; Yew, (i,axus bac- 

 cata,) is fatal to them, as it is to herbivorous animals generally. In 

 a state of "domesticated nature," that is, when not stall-fed, or at 

 all using artificial grasses, but roaming at large, oxen are said 

 to eat two hundred and seventy-six plants, and to reject two 

 hundred and eighteen. Heifers waste away in enclosures where 

 the Meadow-Sweet, (spiraea ulmaria,) grows in abundance, and 

 covers the ground ; but to the GOAT this is nourishing food. The 

 present races of wild cattle are probably all descended from 

 those which were, at some period, subservient to man. The an- 

 cient Urus, or Wild Ox, was a savage, untamable animal, with 

 large spreading horns, and of great size. 



Bos taurus. (Lat. a Bull.) This animal, with flat forehead, 

 and the withers not humped, was properly regarded as the type of 

 the entire tribe. This species includes the Common Ox which is so 

 widely diffused, and of such extended and varied utility ; of 

 which more than forty synonyms have been given. The horns dif- 

 fer much as to their form and direction, from the influence of 

 domestication; the colors are various, as reddish, white, gray, 

 brown and black. "The male is called a lull; the female, a 

 cow; and the young, a calf ; the name Ox is given to the gelded 

 male ; and he is called an ox-calf, or bull-calf, until he is twelve 

 months old ; a steer until he is four years old. and after that an 

 ox or bullock." 



The Ox is less used for farming purposes than formerly ; the 



