The Riverside natural history Volume 5
(This historic book may have numerous typos and missing te...)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 Excerpt: ...of the wilde paard which now grace my collection of trophies. The capture and sale of the foals forms no inconsiderable addition to Mynheer's revenues, his numerous sturdy scions devoting a large portion of their time to the chase of the shy herds--forcing the stragglers occasionally from the mountain fastnesses, and annually disposing of the fruits of their skill with the lasso, for exportation, chiefly to the Mauritius, where they are often whimsically trained to harness." i Sub-order II.--Artiodactyla. The even-toed ungulates (Paridigitata) include all cloven-footed quadrupeds, and consequently by far the greater number of our domesticated animals. The toes are generally four or two in number, the first digit being entirely lost in our living forms, and the second and fifth being often quite rudimentary. The essential point about the foot structure is that the axis of the legs being produced passes between the third and fourth toes, and not through the third as in the Perissodactyla. The third and fourth toes are thus, taken singly, not symmetrical, while taken together they form a symmetrical pair. Compared with the Perissodactyla the Artiodactyla have fewer trunk vertebrae, almost always nineteen; the number of those that bear ribs differs much in different forms. The complexity of the stomach, and the smaller length of the caecum are further points of contrast with the Perissodactyla, which we shall have the opportunity of elucidating further on. Reference has already been made to the likelihood of the Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla having descended from a common stock, and also to the peculiarities of foot and tooth-structure which living and fossil Artiodactyla exhibit. If before proceeding to discuss the living representatives of this order, ...
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