RUMINANTIA.
Digestive System.—The lips of an ox are thick and hard. The upper has no hair on it and varies in color with the color of the animal. When cattle are in good health this space is always moist.
The cheeks on the inside are covered by many small rough processes, which give them a very rough appearance.
The Tongue of the ox is stronger than that of the horse and is more movable. It is very thick and heavy at the back, pointed at the front end and the upper part of it is very rough. It is by means of the tongue that the ox takes most of the food into the mouth.
The Salivary glands are similar to those of the horse.
The Teeth differ very much from those of the horse.
The ox has no front teeth in the upper part of his mouth, their place being taken by a pad of cartilage or gristle. This pad takes the place of the upper row of front teeth. The lower row of teeth press against it when the animal is cropping grass. This accounts for the fact that cattle do not do as well on short grass as horses.
The front teeth in the lower jaw also differ from those of the horse. They are eight in number, chisel-shaped, and are loosely set in the gum.
The molars, or back teeth, are similar to those of the horse, only they are smaller and not so smooth on their upper surface. The ox has twenty-four molars or back teeth, and eight incisors or front teeth, making thirty-two in all.