14 



GREAT GAME ANIMALS. 



forming their crowns completely crescentic ; and the premolars 

 are of the same general structure as the molars, although simpler. 

 In both limbs the third and fourth metapodial (metacarpal and 

 metatarsal) bones are united to form a cannon-bone, which ter- 

 minates below in a pair of pulley-like surfaces for the bones of 

 the toes. Internally these Ruminants are characterised by the 

 complex structure of the stomach, which is divided into four 

 distinct compartments (as shown in fig. 5), each differing in size,, 

 conformation, and function from the other. 



Fig. 5. 



The Stomach of a Sheep, cut open to show the internal structure. 

 ce, oesophagus, or gullet ; ru, rumen, or paunch ; ret, reticulum, or honey- 

 comb ; ps, psalterium, or manyplies ; ab, abomasum ; py, pylorus ; 

 du, duodenum, the commencement of the small intestine. 



As a family, the Bovidce (which include Oxen, Sheep, Goats, 

 and Antelopes) are chiefly characterised by the possession — at least 

 in the males — of hollow, unbranched horns, which, at all events after 

 very early life, are never shed, and are supported on bony cores 

 of nearly similar form. In none of them are upper canine teeth 

 normally present; and the lower canines (fig. 38 B, p 50) have 

 narrow simple crowns, similar to those of the incisors with which 

 they form a continuous series. When lateral hoofs are retained, 

 these are never supported by more than mere nodules of bone. 

 Wild Oxen Under tne ^ e °f ^ xen ma y De included not only the 

 domesticated animals properly so called, but likewise 



Genus Bos. Bison ^ Ya] ^ and BuffaloeSe They are nearly all 



[Cases large, heavily built Buminants, with short necks, and massive 

 41-44.] h eac i s • D0 th sexes being furnished with long horns, and the males 

 generally having a dewlap on the throat and chest. The horns are 



