190 



CATTLE. 



At a month, the full number of the incisors will have appeared. 

 These are the temporary or milk teeth. The enamel covers the 

 whole crown of the tooth, but not entering into its composition, and 

 the edge is exceedingly sharp. The only indication of increasing age 

 will be the wearing down of these sharp edges, and the appearance 

 of the bony substance of the tooth beneath. The two corner teeth 

 will be scarcely up before the centre teeth will be a little worn. At 

 two months, the edge of the four central teeth will be evidently 

 worn ; yet as the wearing is not across the top of the tooth, but a 

 vejy little out of the line of its inner surface, the edge will remain 

 nearly or quite as sharp as before. At three months, the six central 

 teeth, and at four months the whole set, will be worn, and the cen- 

 tral ones most of all ; but after the second or third month, the edge 

 of the tooth will begin to wear down, and there will be more of a 

 flat surface, with a broad line in the centre. 



About this time a new change will begin, but very slowly. The 

 central teeth will not only be worn down on their edges, but the 

 whole of the tooth will diminish, and a kind of absorption will com- 

 mence. There will be little, but increasing space between them. 

 The face of the tooth will hkewise be altered ; the inner edge will be 

 worn down more than the outer, and the mark will change from the 

 appearance of a broad line to a triangular shape. The commencement 

 of this alternation of form and diminution of size may be about the 

 fourth month, and our cut gives a representation of the two central 

 incisors at eight months. The central teeth are now not above half 

 the size of the next pair, and those are evidently lessened. 



SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS. TEN MONTHS. 



At ten months, the process of diminution will have extended 



