CATTLE. 129 



HORNS AND HOOPS. The horns of cattle were intended 

 by nature for defence. In the domestic animal they are not 

 required, hence breeders have aimed at reducing or removing 

 them. The "Longhorn" breed was once a favorite; it has 

 given place to the " Shorthorn." In some breeds the horns 

 have disappeared. These are called "polled" cattle, as the 

 Polled-Angus and the Red Polls. The bone of an animal is 

 largely made up of mineral matter (phosphate of lime), with 

 some oily and gluey substances. Horns and hoofs are quite 

 different from and independent of the bones. When burned, 

 a piece of horn or of hoof will give off a very disagreeable 

 odor. So will hair. The horns, hoofs, and hair are all nitro- 

 genous in their nature. Since the horn is closely connected 

 with a very sensitive part of the animal's head, when dehorning 

 is practised, the horn should be cut off quickly and neatly. 

 The horse's hoof is in one piece ; the feet of cattle are cloven. 

 Is there any advantage to the cattle in this ? Which kind of 

 foot is better adapted to climbing, and which to level travel ? 

 Do all cloven-footed animals chew the cud ? 



THE MOUTH. When full-grown, we have three kinds of 

 teeth. The front teeth are for biting, and are called the 

 incisors ; the back teeth are broad and double-rooted, formed 

 for grinding, known as the molars; between these are longer 

 teeth called the canines. If you examine the teeth of an ox, 

 you find no upper incisors and no canines. There are eight 

 lower incisors, and six upper and six lower molars on each side, 

 making thirty-two in all, as follows : 



Incisors - Canines - Molars - 



8 o-o 6-6 



This arrangement applies to cattle, sheep, goats, and deer, 

 though sometimes canines occur. How would you represent, as 

 above, the teeth of a boy and of a full-grown man ? How those of 

 a horse ? The molars of a horse are larger and broader than 

 those of a cow. A horse bites the grass with the incisors, 



