22 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 

 RUMINATING ANIMALS. 



JL confined to grain and herbage for their nourifti- 

 ment and fupport, it is neceflary that they fhould be ena- 

 bled to receive a large quantity into the ftomach, as well 

 as to retain it a confiderable time before it be reduced 

 to proper chyle : For this purpofe, their inteftines are 

 remarkably long and capacious, and formed into a va- 

 riety of foldings. They are furnilhed with no lefs than 

 four ftomachs. The food, after maftication, is thrown 

 into the firft ftomach, where it remains fome time ; after 

 which, it is forced up again into the mouth, and under- 

 goes a fecond chewing : It is then fent directly into the 

 fecond ftomach, and gradually pafles into the third and 

 fourth ; from whence it is tranfmitted through the con- 

 volutions of the inteftines. By this conformation, rumi- 

 nating animals are enabled to devour large quantities of 

 vegetable aliment, to retain it long in their bowels, and 

 confequently extract from it a quantity of nutritious mat- 

 ter fufficient for their growth and fupport. 



The great obligations we are under to thofe of this 

 clafs, render them objects of the higheft importance to 

 us. We are nourifhed with their milk, we are fupported 

 by their flelh, and we are cloathed and warmed with 

 their fleeces: Their harmleflhefs and innocence endear 

 them to us, and claim from us that protection which 

 their natures feem to require; and, in return, they fupply 

 us with the neceflaries and comforts of life. 



'HE various animals of this kind being entirely 



