358 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



Other indications will throw some light upon this question 

 of old age. 



At birth, or before the first month is past, the lamb 

 is possessed of eight incisors or milk teeth, as they are 

 sometimes called. These are all in the under jaw and in 

 the front part of the mouth. Directly above is a bony 

 substance known as the dental pad, which serves in the 

 place of teeth. At the age of, say, 12 to 16 months, the 

 two central incisors make way for the two first perma- 

 nent ones. At the age of, say, 21 or 22 months, the sec- 

 ond pair of permanent incisors appear, and of course, on 

 either side of the first pair. At the age of 30 months, 

 and in some instances earlier, the third pair are in place, 

 and at the age of, say, 36 months, but sometimes two or 

 three months later, the fourth and last pair are in place, 

 when the sheep are said to have a full mouth. 



The mature sheep has 24 grinding teeth, usually 

 spoken of as molars. Of these 12 are in the under and 12 

 in the upper jaw, six on each side. Of these the first, 

 second and third, counting from the front backwards, are 

 present at birth, but are replaced later. In about three 

 months from birth the first permanent molars appear, 

 occupying the fourth place. At about nine months the 

 second permanent molars appear, occupying the fifth 

 place, and at about 18 months the third complement of 

 permanent molars occupy the sixth place. At, say, 22 

 months, the first and second temporary molars in each 

 side and in both the upper and lower jaw are replaced, 

 and at, say, 24 months, the third temporary molars are re- 

 placed. The full mouth has 32 teeth in all. The perma- 

 nent teeth are both larger and darker in color than the 

 temporary teeth. 



The other indications of age — that is, of old age — 

 include the partial or total loss of the teeth, depression 

 of the loin, hollowness at the barrel depression, sagging 

 of the paunch and distension of the nostril. There is 

 some relation between longevity in the breed and the time 



