PECORA. 481 



hollow, soinelimes o£ large size, iu the surface of the skull, on the 

 iuner anterior side of the orbit. This depression is the lachrymal 

 fossa. 



The inr/uhial glands are in the hollow of the groin. 



The interdigital glands are bet\^een the large third and fourth 

 digits, the orifice, or " foot-pit," of each being in front between 

 the free portions of the digits. 



The laclirgmal fissure is a vacuity in the boues of the face form- 

 ing the outer wall of the skull between the lachrymal and nasal. 



The maximum lengths of horns in Bovidie and Cervidce are 

 chiefly from some MS. notes kindly lent to me by Mr. A. 0. Hume ; 

 from the same notes I have taken details as to localities, native 

 names, &c. I have also made use of a list of maximum measure- 

 ments of horns published by Mr. W. L. Sclater in the 'Asian ' of 

 1891, pp. 197, 217, and 232, and republished in pamphlet form ; 

 and of some notes for ^\hich I am indebted to Colonel J. Biddulph 

 and Mr. R. A. Sterndale. 



PECORA. 



The typical Ruminants are distinguished by several well-marked 

 characters, of which the following are the most important. There 

 are no premaxillarv teeth. The dental formula is almost invari- 



1 , • *]— 1 3—3 3—3 ill • • 1 



ably 1. ^T, c. j-_-j or j— ^, pm. r^, m. g^; the lower canines precisely 

 resembling the incisors and in contact with them. The molars 

 are selenodont, that is they have crescent-shaped tubercles on the 

 unworn crown and show crescentic patterns after wear. Third 

 and fourth metapodials (metatarsals and metacarpals) confluent, 

 forming " cannon-bones." Outer or lateral toes small or some- 

 times wanting ; their metapodial bones never complete. Navicular 

 and cuboid bones of tarsus united. Horns or antlers generally 

 present, at least in the male sex. Stomach with four complete 

 cavities. Placenta cotyledonous. 



The stomach of the Pecora is more complicated than that of the 

 other Euminants, the camels and chevrotaius, and comprises four 

 well-defined cavities, whf reas in the Tylopoda and Tragulina there 

 are only three. The four cavities are known as : — (1) The rumen or 

 paunch, much the largest, which has its mucous lining membrane 

 closely covered with villi, resembling the pile on velvet ; (2) the 

 reticulum or honeycomb-bag, with the lining membrane arranged 

 in shallow hexagonal cells ; (3) the psalterium or manyplies, the 

 inner surface of which is composed of numerous longitudinal 

 folds ; and (4) the abomasum or reed, which is the digestive 

 stomach proper. The food when swallowed is received in the 

 paunch, and after being retained there for a time, and undergoing 

 a softening process, it is regurgitated into the mouth, where it 

 undergoes the process known as " chewing the cud " and consisting 

 of trituration by the molar teeth. 



