INDICATIONS OF AGE. 349 



bred animal, or one well kept, than in a coarsely-bred or 

 badly-nourished animal. Hence, according to the breed, 

 quahty and quantity of food, general treatment, etc., of the 

 animal, are the temporary central incisors shed, and replaced 

 by permanent incisors, at an age varying from one year and 

 three months to two years and three months, usually about 

 a year and a half. At the age of t^vo years the internal 

 lateral permanent incisors appear, the external lateral ap- 

 pearing at the age of three years, and the corner incisors 

 appear at an age varying from three years and six months 

 to four years. The first molar appears when the animal 

 is about six or eight months old, their number generally be- 

 coming complete at the age of three years. The animal 

 usually has a full mouth at an age varying from three to four 

 years. The remarks made in regard to the teeth of the ox 

 wall also apply to those of sheep, with the exception that 

 dentition in the sheep usuall}^ occupies a period slightly 

 shorter than that occupied by the same process in the ox. 



Dog. — There has not been a great deal of attention paid to 

 the indications of age afforded by the teeth of the dog, as 

 generally speaking the age of a dog is not a matter of much 

 importance. All the incisor teeth are usually present at birth, 

 or if not present appear in a day or two. The eyes of the pup 

 are closed at birth, and remain so for a period varjdng from 

 ten days to two weeks. At the age of five or six months the 

 temporary teeth are shed and replaced by permanent teeth ; 

 and at the age of one year and a half dentition is usually com- 

 plete. At one year of age the teeth are beautifully white and 

 fresh in- appearance, and there is a peculiar shape of the in- 

 cisors, which has been likened to that of a trefoil or a fleur de 

 lis. As the age of the animal progresses this appearance 

 becomes less and less distinct, until finally, about the age of 

 two years, it can be no longer distinguished, and the teeth, 

 particularly the lower incisors, begin to show signs of wear, 

 which gradually increase until the teeth become bhint and 



