18 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



chains. The hair is in fact very long. The tail is 



very short. The animal is met with in the North 



American region, and it is found in the fossil form in 



the caves of France, together with implements. 

 (2) The Ya/is. — These animals have much hair and a large 



tail, and. they are present on the Himalayas, and are 



domesticated in Thibet and Angola. 

 (8) Buffaloes. — The buffaloes are really Indian forms. In 



Northern Africa the buffalo is used as a beast of 



burden. 

 (4) Bison. — The bison is an American form ; but there are 



a few in Europe. The fore limbs in these animals are 



very long. 

 The ox has six incisor teeth in the lower jaw, none in the 

 upper jaw, and no tusks in either upper or lower jaw. It has 

 six molars or large grinding teeth on each side of both jaws, 

 and the total number of the teeth possessed is thus seen to be 

 thirty. The forehead in our domesticated cattle is flat, and its 

 length is greater than its breadth. The horns are smooth^ 

 round, and tapering, and they rise from the extremities of the 

 frontal ridge. Some breeds of oxen are not provided with 

 horns, and these appendages differ very greatly in point of 

 length and curvature in the several varieties. These animals 

 are probably natives of Asia and Europe, and perhaps also of 

 Africa, and it is quite possible that they may have been domesti- 

 cated at different times and in different countries. It cannot be 

 said that the ox is met with in a truly wild state, although oxen 

 which are designated wild are found in great numbers on the 

 pampas or wild grassy plains of South America; but it is 

 certain that they are not indigenous in that country. More- 

 over, the wild cattle which still exist in one or two parks in 

 Britain are in all probability direct descendants of domesticated 

 oxen. In reference to the remoter origin of the ox, it does not 

 appear to be decided whether or not the Urus, described by 

 ancient writers as an inhabitant of Central Europe, was the 

 progenitor of our domestic ox. 



The ox was probably used as a beast of burden or of draught 

 before the cow was valued on account of its supply of that 

 nutritious article of diet, milk. In some parts of Europe this 

 animal is more often employed in that capacity than is usual 



