as indicative of the Age of the Animal. 
339 
pressure of the bodies of the permanent beneath them, and they 
have consequently a less firm hold of their sockets than before. 
Tlie crowns of all the teeth are diminished from attrition, Avhich 
gives them an appearance of standinj^ wide apart, but far less so 
than in the ox when his temporary incisors are about to fall. 
The indications of advancing age gradually increase, so that by 
the time the animal is a year old the mouth will have the ap- 
pearance seen in fig. 37. 
I may repeat here that which was stated with reference to this 
condition of the temporary incisors of the 
■ ox, namely, that the gradual advance up- r:,„ i.* 
wards of the incisors to maintain their ori- 
ginal height leads to the fangs being ex- 
posed, and is, therefore, among the causes 
of the width existing between these teeth. 
An attentive examination w ill often show, 
in sheep of this age, a space between each 
fang, while the faces of the teeth may be 
in close contact with each other. 
At a year old, even greater changes than 
those just named will occur in some sheep, 
as they will now cut the first pair of jwma- 
nciit incisors. These are unquestionably cases of early teething, 
but are far from being unfrequent. It is of great practical import 
to de'cide, if possible, whether any of the established breeds of 
sheep are likely to cut the first or central pair of teeth earlier 
than others, and what other causes besides breed may hasten the 
process. As to the former question, it may be affirmed that Cots- 
wold sheep, as a rule, have their first permanent teeth before 
either Southdowns, Shropshire, or Hampshire-downs. Leicesters 
tread so closely on the heels of Cotswolds, that it is only by com- 
paring numbers any decision can be come to with regard to them ; 
but when this is done, Cotswolds are found the earliest in their 
dentition. An opinion prevails pretty generally among sheep- 
breeders that ram lambs cut their first pair of permanent teeth 
before ewe lambs. In our examinations this should be borne in 
mind, and allowance always made in cases where the point to be 
decided is a nice one, as it frequently happens to be at this par- 
ticular period of the animal's life. It must be observed, however, 
that sex has not so great an influence as is commonly supposed. 
I find, in comparing Southdown ewe with ram hoggets bred and 
reared on the same farm, that there is but a very slight difference 
in favour of the young rams. 
* Fig. 37. Front part of the lower jaw of a sheep at a year old, showing that 
the iacisors are worn flat, and that spaces exist between each of their fangs, although 
their crowns are still in contact with each other. Natural size ; seen from above. 
