Ruminant i a (rominanshia)

pl. [NL., neut. pl. of L. ruminan ( t- ) s, chewing the cud: see ruminant.] A series or section of artiodactyl ungulate mammals; the ruminants or ruminating animals, or hoofed quadrupeds that chew the cud. All are even-toed and cloven-footed, and have a com Du A Ps plex stomach of several compartments, in the largest one of which food is received without being chewed, to be afterward regurgitated or thrown up into the mouth, there chewed at the animal's lei Ru, rumen or paunch; Ret, reticulum or sure, and then honeycomb, showing alveoli; Ps, omasum, psalterium, or manyplies; A, abomasum or swallowed again. rennet-bag; a, esophagus; Du, duodenum. In nearly all liv- ( Ru unopened; other divisions in section.) ing ruminants the IMG:content-2601.png:[blocks in formation] stomach has four compartments, or is quadripartite: these are the rumen, paunch, or plain tripe; the reticulum, or honeycomb tripe; the omasum, psalterium, or manyplies; and the abomasum or rennet - bag, succeeding one another in the order here given. The two former belong to the cardiac division of the stomach, the two latter to the pyloric. The families of living ruminants whose stomachs are thus perfectly quadrilocular are - (1) the Giraffidæ, or camelopards; (2) the Saigidæ (if regarded as distinct from the Bovidæ ); (3) the Bovidæ, or cattle, including also sheep and goats and all kinds of antelopes excepting (4) the Antilo capridæ; and (5) the Cervidæ, or deer family. In the Ca melidæ, or camels and llamas, the stomach is imperfectly four-parted. In the Tragulidæ it is tripartite, no psalterium being developed. Several extinct families are be lieved on other grounds IMG:content-2602.png:[blocks in formation] mx , Typical Ruminant Dentition (Sheep). maxilla; px , toothle premaxilla; 11, 12 , 13, three incisors of left side; c, left lower canine, like an incisor and usually called one; pm , upper and lower premolars; m , m , upper and lower molars.. potamus. The average size of ruminants among mammals is large, a sheep being one of the smaller species; they are perfectly herbivorous, and have in addition to the pecu ruminative liarities of the digestive system certain characteristic dental and cranial features: thus, there are no upper incisors, except in the camel family, in any of the living ruminants, and the under incisors bite against a callous pad. At the present time these animals are found in nearly all parts of the world (not, however, in the Australian); they are comparatively poorly represented in America, and occur in the greatest numbers, both of individuals and of species, in Africa. Also called Pecora. See also cut under Tragulus. ruminantly (rö'mi-nant-li), adv. In the manner of a ruminant; by means of rumination. ruminate (rö'mi-nāt), v.; pret. and pp. rum i nated, ppr. ruminating. [ It. rum in are = Sp. rumiar = Pg. ruminar = Pr. romiar, rominar = OF. F. ruminer, F. dial. roumir, rouinger, run ger, roincer, roinger, runger ), chew the cud, ruminate, Ruminating flocks enjoy the shade. IMG:content-2603.png:[blocks in formation] If in debt, let him ruminate how to pay his debts. Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 535.