24 



DOMESTIC TREATISE 



ON 



or^e^ anti Bogs* 



AGE OF THE PIORSE AND DOG. 



JLIOMESTIC quadrupeds have all of them certain 

 alterations that take place in their bodies at fixed pe- 

 riods of their life, by wh.ich tlieir age may be ascer- 

 tained Avith considerable precision. Oi'e?i liave a 

 teinporaneous set of horns, which give place, at three 

 years old, to a permanent pair, which produce a 

 circle every succeeding year; so that by counting 

 three years for the point of either of the horns, and 

 a year for each circle, the age is gained. 



Deer acquire an additional branch to the palm of 

 the horn each year. 



Sheep and goats do not change their horns : one 

 year, therefore, being counted for the point, and an 

 additional year for each circle they present around 

 tiiem, furnish the observer with their a^es. 



Dogs have no exact criterion of their age ; but 

 their habits of domestication enable us to judge 

 V, jth considerable ceitainty relative to it. At about 

 four years tlse teeth lose tlieir points, and gain a 

 surface, which increases as the age advances ; they 

 likewise become less white, and Diore uneven ; and 



