90 NATURAL HISTORY. 
pouches; and then, retiring to a secluded place among 
their mountain fastnesses, they masticate their aliment 
in comparative security. Moreover, the maceration (or 
soaking) in the fluids of the first and second stomachs, to 
which the food has been subjected, causes it to be much 
more readily ground down than if it were triturated im- 
mediately on being first cropped from the pasture.” 
156. There is an obvious adaptation of the structure 
of the Ruminants to the habits just stated. That they 
may quickly perceive the approach of an enemy their 
senses are extremely acute. ‘Their eyes are placed at the: 
side of the head rather than in front, which affords them 
a great range of vision. Besides this, the pupils of the 
eyes have an oval shape, extending horizontally, mstead 
of up and down, as we see it in the Cat.* This increases 
the range of sight in the rear direction. The ears are 
placed far back, and can be readily turned to any quar- 
ter. This is quite essential in fleeing from their pursuers. 
In order that they may flee swiftly they have long legs, 
and are for the most part slender in form. When there 
is an accumulation of flesh and fat, making the animal 
bulky and slow in motion, it is commonly owing to the 
influence of domestication. Though the Ruminants are 
generally timid animals, the means of defense which they 
have in their horns and hoofs some of them are disposed 
to use sometimes in offensive warfare, at least among 
each other. 
157. The family Bovide (Bos, an Ox) is distinguished 
from the other families of this order by the uniform pres- 
ence of horns in both sexes, and by the bulkiness of their 
forms. The common Ox is diffused widely in all quar- 
ters of the globe, and has a great variety of breeds. I 
will notice only one. The Bos Indicus, the Zebu, or 
* The reason for this shape of the pupil in the cat and other ani- 
mals of the feline tribe is obvious. In taking its prey the animal has 
need of a good range of vision up and down, or vertically, rather than 
laterally, especially if its prey be on any height, as a tree. 
