336 
On the Teeth of the Oz, Sheep, and Pig, 
when the sheep is actually three years old the four central teeth are fully 
grown. At four years old he has six teeth fully grown, and at five years old all 
the teeth are perfectly developed. This is one year before the horse or the ox 
can be said to be full-mouthed. The sheep is a much shorter lived animal than 
the horse, and does not often attain the usual age of the ox." * 
These statements have generally passed as correct, but are 
erroneous in many respects. For example, it is well known that 
sheep, even if they have not been well kept, or do not belong to 
the breeds celebrated for arriving at early maturity, have two 
" broad teeth " well developed long before the animal is two 
years old. Other inaccuracies in this account will become ap- 
parent as we proceed. Nothing can better demonstrate the 
necessity of a correct knowledge of this subject than the preced- 
ing example, and the importance of protecting the rights of our 
A gricultural Societies, as well as of the exhibitors, with reference 
to this animal and others, becomes so self-evident as to need no 
comment. 
To proceed. From one month till about three months no 
change of consequence takes place in either the incisors or 
the molars. At this time, rather before than afterwards, the 
lamb cuts lis first jpermancnt molar teeth — the fourth in situation. 
These teeth, as in the calf, are usually more forward in the lower 
than in the upper jaw, and, possessing but two lobes, are scarcely 
so long from front to back in the lower jaw as the temporary 
molars which stand before them. By this addition the lamb has 
now sixteen molars, which is about three months before the calf 
has a similar number. In the illustration (fig. 35), representing 
the skull of a lamb three months old, these molar teeth are marked 
4 p. M., the temporary being distinguished by the symbols 1, 2, 3, 
T. M. Four incisors are also seen occupying their place on the 
site of the lower jaw. In this animal, as well as the ox, the place 
of the incisors in the upper jaw is supplied by the dental pad; 
also represented in the engraving, and marked d. p. 
The next important stage in the process of teething in the 
sheep is the cutting of the molars fifth in position. This takes 
place when the animal has reached his ninth month, and forms, 
consequently, a useful criterion to assist us in determining a ques- 
tion of age, both before and after this date. The molars are now 
twenty, which, added to the incisors, gives a total of twenty- 
eight teeth. 
At nine months the incisors offer but few facilities for ascer- 
taining the animal's age. In most cases, they will have reached 
their acme of development ; and in some few, where the sheep 
have been kept on heath land, will begin to give evidence of slight 
* Sheep, their Breeds, Management, and Diseases, p. 5. 
