RUMINATING QUADRUPEDS. 



13?. 



beside the formation of their hoofs, by the possession of six inci- 

 sive teeth in each jaw ; and, in the male, of two small canine teeth 

 in the upper, and sometimes in the under jaw, which are wanting 

 in the female. Between these and the double teeth, or grinders, 

 there is a vacant space, just corresponding to the angle of the lips, 

 where the bit of the bridle is placed, by which man is enabled to 

 guide and restrain him. Beside the horse, which is the most 

 valuable and highly prized of all the domestic animals, this family 

 embraces the ass, the zebra, the dziggetai, a species between the 

 horse and the ass in size, of a light bay color, inhabiting the cen- 

 tral deserts of Asia, and the quagga, an inhabitant of Africa, re- 

 sembling in shape the horse, but in stripes of dark and white 

 colors, the zebra. 



RUMINATING QUADRUPEDS. 



Bos, or Ox, of which the Bull is the male, is a genus of 

 quadrupeds spread widely over the earth, scarcely any country 

 being without its peculiar breed. The horns are concave and 

 smooth, and the front teeth, only found in the lower jaw, are eight 

 in number. The age of this animal is known by its teeth and 

 horns. The first front teeth fall out when it is ten months old, 

 and are replaced by others, which 

 are larger and not so white : at six- 

 teen months those on each side of 

 the middle teeth drop out, and are 

 replaced by others; and at three 

 years old, all the incisive teeth are 

 renewed : they are uhen all long, 

 white, and even ; and, in proportion 

 as the animal advances in years, 

 they decay, and become unequal 

 and black. The horns fall off at three years, and these are replaced 

 by other horns, which, like the second teeth, fall off no more ; 

 only those of the ox and the cow grow larger and longer than those 

 of the bull; the growth of these second horns is not uniform. 

 The first year, that is to say, the fourth year of the age of the ox, 

 12 



Wild Ox of Scotland. 



