68 



THE SKELETON OF THE HORSE. 



natitia, or ruminants, from the food being returned from one of the slomaclis (for they 

 have four), called the rumen or paunch, for the purpose of remasticatioii. 



The ungulata that do not ruminate are, somewiiat improperlj', called jaac/tyf/erTna/a, 

 from the thickness of their skins. The horse does not ruminate, and therefore belongs 

 to the order puchydcrriiata. 



The pach3'dermata, who have only one toe, belong to the family solipeda — single 

 footed. Therefore, the horse ranks under the division vertebrata — the class mammalia 

 — the tribe ungulata — the order pachydermata — and the family solipeda. 



The solipeda consist of several species, as the horse, the ass, the mule, and the 

 quagga. 



First stands the Equus Caballus, or Common Horse. 



Ammals are likewise distinguished according to the number, description, and situa- 

 tion of their teeth. The horse has six incisors or cutting teeth in the front of each 

 jaw ; and one canine tooth or tusk. 



On each side, above and below — at some distance from the incisors, and behind the 

 canines, and with some intervening space — are six molar teeth, or grinders ; and these 

 molar teeth have flat crowns, with ridges of enamel, and that enamel penetrating into 

 the substance of the tooth. 



The whole is thus represented by natural historians : — 



Horse. — Incisors — , canines , molar -^^. Total, forty teeth. 



6 1 — 1 6 — 6 



To this short chapter we may properly append The Skeleton of the Horse. 



The ?Iead. 



Tlie posterior maxillary or under jaw. 



The superior maxillary or upper jaw. A Uitle lower down ilinn the letter is a foramen, 



throupli which pass the nerves and blood-vessels which chiefly supply the lower 



part of the face. 

 The orljit, or cavity containing: the eye. 

 The nasal bones, or bone? of the nose. 

 The suture dividing the parietal bones below from the occipital bones above. 



