RUMINANTIA. CERVIDiE. 73 



ORDER RUiMINANTIA. 



Characters of the order. Animals embraced in this order are 

 distinguished from others by the want of incisive teeth in the 

 upper jaw. Between the molar teeth and the place usually occupied 

 by the incisive teeth, there is a vacant space, as in the Rodentia ; 

 in a few of the genera, however, there are canine teeth. There are 

 generally six molars on each side of both jaws. The incisors of 

 the lower jaw are almost universally eight in number. The feet 

 are all two-toed, and the toes are covered with hoofs ; in some 

 genera there are rudimental toes covered also with small hoofs. 



The most singular faculty possessed by this order is that of 

 rumination, or the power of returning the food to the mouth, to 

 subject it to a second mastication after it has once been swallowed. 



To the animals of this order, Dr. Godman remarks, that man 

 is more largely indebted, than to all the rest of animated nature. 

 The mass of his food is obtained from their flesh, and there is no 

 part of their bodies from which he does not derive additions to 

 his comforts, and assistance to his arts. Their hides, horns, 

 bones, hair, flesh, fat, milk, and even their blood, are in hourly 

 demand. Many of them, during their lives, yield him valuable 

 services, as beasts of draught and burden, and contribute largely 

 to his sustenance and luxury w r hen they are finally slaughtered. 

 Peaceful and patient in their dispositions, they feed exclusively 

 on the verdure which is scattered over the earth, and prepare this 

 vegetable matter most efficiently for the use of man and other 

 creatures, by converting it into their own flesh, which is edible 

 throughout all the members of this order, and, in a large propor- 

 tion, is delicious food. 



FAMILY XII. CERVIDiE. The Deer Family. 



Genus Cervus. Lin. Deer. 



Generic characters. Dental system ; incisors f ; canines |=| ; 

 molars £=£ ; = 32 ; head elongated, and terminated with a muz- 

 zle ; males all provided with horns, covered at first by a hairy 

 membrane ; horns solid, branched, deciduous ; feet provided with 

 hoofs ; tail short. 



10 



