RU MI N ATI N G ANIMAL ix* 



THE Ruminants forming a highly varied order of animals feed principally on herbage. 

 Wherever vegetation clothes the earth, it requires neither skill nor exertion, on their part, to seek and 

 to devour the rich repast which is profusely spread at their feet. To remove from one pasture to 

 another, to browse and to repose, constitute the peaceful employment of their lives, and satisfy the 

 conditions of their being. To these purposes, therefore, the whole conformation of their skeleton, and 

 es[>ecially of those parts which form the limbs, is adapted. The anterior extremities having only to 

 support the weight of the fore part of the trunk, and to assist in progressive motion, have a less 

 c >mplicated arrangement of joints than we find in some other animals, and exhibit many of those 

 consolidations of the bones which tend to simplify the structure, and to contribute to its strength. 



As these animals never engage in sanguinary warfare to satisfy the calls of appetite, but are often 

 unprovided with any adequate means of defence from powerful and ferocious enemies, their only 

 resource is a rapid and precipitate flight. Hence we find among them the fleetest of quadrupeds. In 

 the gazelle, and similar animals, the parts comprising the hind legs are larger, and inclined to one 

 another at angles more acute than in other tribes of mammalia ; so that they are always ready to spring 

 forward on the slightest notice of danger, and instantly to commence their flight. 



As the heads of Ruminants must reach the ground, in order to graze, we find that the neck has 

 been much elongated, when compared with the Pachydermata ; that the muscles which raise the head 

 have been enlarged and strengthened, and that the spiuous processes of the back and neck have been 

 much expanded, in order to allow of suflicient surface for the attachments of these muscles. The 

 effort requisite to raise, and even support the head, is very considerable, as will appear when we reflect 

 that its weight acts by means of au extremely long lever for such is the mechanical .office of the 

 elongated neck. 



But, in order to economise the muscular power, an elastic ligament t is employed to sustain the 

 weight of the head. This ligament is formed of a great number of bands which connect the hinder 

 part of the cranium, at the ridge of the occipital bone, and all the spimms processes of tin- neck, with 

 those of the back the separate slips from each being successively joined together, and composing a 



Ruininantia. 



t Ligamentum nuchse. 



