158 
Rujiisantia. ^lAlIMALIA. Bovijxe. 
tion of naturalists to so interesting a structure (fig. 55) . 
Here we have an intestinal gland, made up as it were 
of from fifteen to twenty little pouches, comhiired to 
form a beautiful network of cells, seven of them hearing 
no inconsiderable resemblance to the water-carrj-ing 
reservoirs of the reticulum. These latter have a depth 
of from three to four lines, whilst the remainder are 
more or less incomplete ; and those farthest from the 
ileo-colic orifice are mere depressions, the walls of 
separation being scarcely elevated from the surface. 
In other ruminants the only peculiarity affecting the 
alimentary canal, Avhich is worthy of notice, consists in 
the remarkable lengthening of the intestinal tube gene- 
rally, and in the hulk}' development of Ihe coecum. 
There are some curious modifications ol stiucture to 
he seen in the liver and gall-bladder; but these dis- 
tinctions will he more appropriately indicated when 
comparing and describing the several characteristics of 
the cameline and cervine families. 
The skeletal characters are tolerably uniform through- 
out the order, except in so far as they relate to mere 
size and strength, and to the presence or absence of 
those remarkable cranial outgrowths, commonly called 
horns. We shall treat of the latter structures Avhen 
specially considering the horned families, hleanwhilc 
we take occasion to notice, that whatever be the length 
of the vertebral column, we invariably find the bones 
of the neck to be only seven in number : and the 
beauty of this law, though previously mentioned as 
afiecting the entire mammalian series, cannot be more 
cogently illustrated than by comparing the long-necked 
camels and girafl'e with the short-necked cetacea — • 
Avhich hat'e yet to be described. Taking the skull of 
the ox (fig. 5G) as a type of the ruminant cranium, it 
is only necessary to observe its general breadth and 
massiveness ; the cerebral division bearing a very small 
proportion to the entire mass. This disparity prevails 
throughout the whole order, the hones of the face 
occupying fully two-thirds of the entire length, and 
the area of the face on section being nearly double 
that of the cranium. 
Family I.— BOVIDHU. 
The group of animals commonly termed Oxen con- 
stitute a division of the hollow-horned ruminants, which, 
although very closely allied to the sheep and antelopes, 
are easily recognized by their bulky and massive appear- 
ance generally, and particularly by their broad muzzle 
and powerful limbs. A still more striking character 
istic is to be seen in the lateral direction of the horns, 
which usually incline upwards, or forwards in a crescentic 
manner. In the constitution of the skeleton, there are 
numerous variations in the form, position, and degree 
of development of the several osseous elements; but 
these are not of sufficient importance to be detailed at 
length. In regard to the cloven hoof, we may mention 
what we have omitted in our general introduction to 
the order, namely, that this split condition of the foot 
is evidently designed to impart lightness and elasticity 
to the spring ; and in Anew of giving full effect to such 
an arrangement, many ruminant species are provided 
A\fith a special glandular sebaceous follicle betAveen the 
toes, AA'hose office it is to furnish a lubricating secretion, 
calculated to prevent injury from friction of the digits 
one against the other. According to Sir Charles Bell, 
there is yet another intention in this cloven form, viz., 
that of aiding the A'ohmtary elevation of the foot, AA'hen 
it has sunk deeply into the soft ground. “ We may 
observe,” he says, “ hoAv much more easily the coav 
AvithdraAvs her foot from the yielding margin of a river 
than the horse. The round and concave form of the 
horse’s foot is attended Avith a vacuum or suction as it 
is AA'ithdraAvn, Avhile the split and conical-shaped hoof 
expands in sinking and is easily extricated.” In regard 
f\ to the economic purposes Avhich this family 
I I subserves, they are not second to those of 
1/ I any other group of animals, for they supply 
I us Avith capital in the form of labour, fat, 
milk, leather, horns, &c. Geographically, 
tliey enjoy a wide distribution, both in the 
eastern and Avestern hemispheres ; Avhilst 
numerous fossil remains testify to their abundance in 
the tertiary epoch. 
THE OX {Bos iaurus) is knOAvn to every one, and 
yet, notAA’ithstanding our familiarity Avith it, Ave are 
scarcely in a position to decide Avhether it is a descend- 
ant of the great ancient British Avdld ox — Bos urus — 
or Avhether it may not he a domesticated A'ariety of 
another species. We incline to the latter opinion; and 
having ourselves carefully examined the cranium of 
Bos primif/enitis, Ave are quite satisfied that the Ox is 
not deriA'ed from that source. Cuvier, Bell, and other 
eminent naturalists have expressed their opinion that 
the vicAv first referred to is the correct one ; but, on 
the other hand, Ave have the Aveighty authority of Pro- 
fessor OAven, Avhose sentiments are thus convincingly 
expressed : — “ It seems to me more probable,” he says, 
speaking of our domestic cattle, “ that the herds of the 
neAvly-conquered regions Avould be derived from the 
already domesticated cattle of the Roman colonists ; of 
those ‘ boves nostri,’ for example, by comparison Avith 
Avhich Caesar endeavoured to convey to his countrymen 
an idea of the stupendous and formidable uri of the 
