158 



EUMI.VANTIA.- 



-MAJIJIALIA.- 



-BoVID.E. 



tion of iiaturaKsts to so interesting a structure (fig. 55). 

 Here we have an intestinal gland, made up as it were 

 of from fifteen to twenty little pouches, combined to 

 form a beautifid network of cells, seven of them bearing 

 no iuconsiJorable resemblance to the water-carrying 

 reservoirs of the reticulmn. These latter have a depth 

 of from three to four lines, whilst the remainder are 

 more or less incomplete ; and those farthest from the 

 ileo-colic orifice are mere depressions, the walls of 

 separation being scarcely elevated from the surface. 

 In other rummants the only peculiarity affecting the 

 alimentary canal, which is worthy of notice, consists m 

 the remai-kable lengthening of the intestinal tube gene- 

 rally, and in the bulky development of Ibe coecum. 

 There are some cmious modifications of stiucture to 

 be seen in the liver and gall-bladder; but these dis- 

 tinctions will be more appropriately indicated when 

 comparing and describing the several characteristics of 

 the cameline and cervine families. 



The skeletal characters are tolerably miiform through- 

 out the order, except in so far as tliey relate to mere 

 size and strength, and to the presence or absence of 

 those remarkable cranial outgrowths, commonly called 

 horns. We shaU treat of the latter structiu-es when 

 specially considering the horned families. Meanwhile 

 we take occasion to notice, that whatever be the length 

 of the vertebral column, we invariably Ihid the bones 

 of the neck to be only seven in number ; and the 

 beauty of this law, though previously mentioned as 

 affecting the entire mammaUan series, cannot be more 

 cogently illustrated than by comparmg the long-necked 

 camels and girafle with the short-necked cetacea — 

 which have yet to be described. Taking the skull of 

 Hie ox (fig. 50) as a type of the ruminant cranium, it 



is only necessary to obsen-e its general breadOi and 

 massiveness ; the cerebral division bearing a very small 

 proportion to the entu-e mass. This disparity prevails 

 tlu'oughout the whole order, the bones of the face 

 occupj'ing fully two-tliirils of the entire length, and 

 the area of the face on section being nearly double 

 Uiat of the cranium. 



Fasiily I.— BOVID^. 



The group of animals commonly termed Oxen con- 

 stitute a division of the hoUuw-honicd ruminants, which, 

 although very closely allied to the sheep and antelopes, 

 are easily recognized by their bulky and massive appear- 

 ance generally, and particularly by their broad muzzle 

 and powerfid hmbs. A stiU more strikuig character 

 istic is to be seen m the lateral direction of the horns, 

 which usually incline upwards, or forwards in a crescentio 

 manner. In the constitution of the skeleton, there aro 

 numerous variations in tlie form, position, and degreo 

 of development of tlie several osseous elements ; but 

 these are not of sufSoient importance to be detailed at 

 length. In regard to the cloven hoof, we may mention 

 what we have omitted in our general introduction to 

 the order, namely, that this split condition of the foot 

 is evidently designed to impart lightness and elasticity 

 to the spring ; and in view of giving fuU effect to such 

 an arrangement, many niminant species are provided 

 \vith a special glandular sebaceous follicle between the 

 toes, whoso oflice it is to fm'nisli a lubricating secretion, 

 calcidated to prevent injury from friction of the digits 

 one against the otlier. According to Sh Charles Bell, 

 there is j^et another intention in this cloven form, \'iz., 

 that of aiding the voluntary elevation of the foot, when 

 it has simk deeply into the soft gi-oimd. " We may 

 observe," he says, " how much more easily the cow 

 withdraws her foot from the yielding margin of a river 

 than the horse. The round and concave form of tlie 

 horse's foot is attended with a vacuum or suction as it 

 is withdrawii, while the s\iiit and conical-shaped hoof 

 expands in sinking and is easily extricated." In regard 

 to the economic purposes which this family 

 subserves, they are not second to tliose of 

 •i ■ any other group of animals, for they supply 

 us with capital in the form of labour, fat, 

 milk, leather, bonis, &c. Geographically, 

 they enjoy a wide distribution, both in the 

 eastern and western hemispheres ; whiltt 

 numerous fossil remains testify to theh abundance in 

 the tertiary epoch. 



THE OX {Bos taunts) is loiown to every one, and 

 yet, notwithstanduig our familiarity with it, we are 

 scarcely in a position to decide wliethcr it is a descend- 

 ant of the great ancient British -wild ox — Bos urus — 

 or whether it may not be a domesticated variety of 

 another species. We incline to the latter opinion; and 

 having ourselves carefully examhicd tlie cranium of 

 Bos 2}ri'>niffenius, we are quite satisfied that tlie Ox is 

 not derived fi'om that source. Cuvier, Bell, and other 

 eminent naturalists have expressed their opinion tliat 

 the view first referred to is the correct one ; but, on 

 the other hand, we have tlie weighty authority of Pro- 

 fessor Owen, whose sentiments are tlius con^•incingly 

 expressed : — " It seems to me more probable," he says, 

 speaking of our domestic cattle, " that tlie herds of the 

 newly-conquered regions would be derived from Uie 

 already domesticated cattle of the Roman colonists ; of 

 tliose ' boves nostri,' for example, by comparison with 

 which Cffisar endeavoured to convey to his coimti'jTncn 

 an idea of tlie stupendous and formidable mi of tlic 



