OBSERVATIONS ON THE ACE OF THE OX. 
395 
the evolution of the dental organs, and so producing the same pre- 
cocious mouths which we have just seen exhibited by the Durham 
breed. 
M. Masse has at home a bull of the Charolaise breed (having, 
it is true, a fourth of Durham blood) born at the end of April, 
1843, which had all its permanent teeth in February 1846 ; con- 
sequently, at the age of two years and ten months. 
He has likewise in his pastures another ox, of the same breed, 
but pure blood, born some days after the former, but brought up in 
the same manner, that is, by forcing aliment, which has now (the 
24th of September) lost its last milk teeth, and, consequently, has 
got a perfect mouth at three years and a half old. 
These two beasts, which are in a state of preparation for the 
show at Poissy, have both been seen by M. Yvart at Mr. Masse’s 
house. 
All the oxen of Charolais do not, it is true, manifest the same 
activity of dentition as the above two ; but, since the breed of this 
country have, from the intelligent care taken of it, acquired a 
certain precocity in its development, it is worthy of remark that 
the Charolais oxen, reared and pastured in the ordinary manner, 
generally have all their permanent teeth at four years and some 
months. 
M. Masse is of opinion that generous and substantial feeding at 
an early age has especial influence in creating early dentition ; 
and what to him appears corroborative of such opinion, is, that 
oxen destined for labour, who, unlike those intended to be put up to 
be fatted, are not well fed at this early age, do not exhibit the 
same precocity. 
Another remark made by this skilful breeder, is, that winter 
feeding in particular hastens the fall of the temporary and the 
issue of the permanent teeth. Among other facts in support of 
his opinion, which I believe well founded, he cites the case of two 
bullocks he sent in 1845 to the show at Poissy, who in four 
months, from October to February, each of them lost their four 
posterior temporary teeth, which were immediately replaced by 
the permanent. 
Furthermore, these observations can be corroborated, if there be 
necessity for it, by the following remarks, for the communication 
of which I am indebted to one of the best informed breeders and 
intelligent men with whom I am acquainted — M. Tourret, for- 
merly deputy of Allier. 
“ In Allier,” writes to me M. Tourret, “ it is the custom to wean 
the calf at an early age. At two or three months old, at six weeks 
even, it is taken from its mother. Now, in our country it is rare 
to see an ox at five years old, or even at four and a half, retaining 
