A Guide for the Study of Animals Part 50

_Directions._

Since it is impossible to have living ungulates in the laboratory, this study should be supplemented by trips to a museum and to a zoological garden. Observe also such hoofed animals as may be common in your neighborhood. Use your camera and make "snapshots," showing characteristic att.i.tudes of these animals.

_Definitions._

_Ungulates_, an order of mammals characterized by the possession of hoofs.

_Ruminant_, a division of ungulates, which "chew the cud."

_Perissodactyl_, a division of ungulates with an odd number of toes.

_Artiodactyl_, a division of ungulates with an even number of toes.

_Carnivorous_, flesh-eating.

_Herbivorous_, plant-eating.

_Omnivorous_, eating both plant and animal food.

_Observations in the laboratory._

_Note._--Answer the following questions for one or more of the following: The cow, sheep, goat, hog, and horse. If desired, the questions may be answered in the form of a table.

1. What is the relative length of the neck? What is its direction with reference to the body? Of what importance is this length and direction?

2. What is the length and appearance of the tail? What is its use?

3. What is the relative length of the legs? Locate the heel, knee, and elbow. (Reference should be made to a diagram of a skeleton.) When the leg is long, in which bone is this lengthening accomplished (compared with human skeleton)?

4. How many toes on each foot? Is the animal an artiodactyl or a perissodactyl? Is it plantigrade or digitigrade?

5. What is the relative size and position of the ears (external ear)?

6. What is the relative size and position of the eyes? nostrils?

7. Are horns of any kind present? If so, note the size, shape, and direction. Are they present in both s.e.xes? If not, in which one? If in both, note any differences distinguis.h.i.+ng the s.e.xes.

_Suggested drawings._

a. Head, side view.

b. Entire animal, side view.

_Observations in the field or at home._

1. Note how the animal uses its lips, tongue, and teeth in feeding.

Is it a ruminant?

2. In what order does the animal use its feet? Look up the definition of _walk_, _run_, _gallop_, _canter_, _trot_, _lope_, _single foot_, _pace_. Which of these forms of locomotion are optional with the animal?

3. Describe the process when the animal lies down and gets up.

4. Describe the covering of the animal, noting its length, fineness, etc. What variations in different regions of the body?

5. Is the animal alert or sluggish? Upon what senses does it most depend? What mental characteristics are most marked, _e.g._ curiosity, fear, suspicion.

6. Note any movements of the ear. What is gained by these movements?

7. What is the position of the eye? What is the shape and direction of the pupil? Reason?

8. What means has the animal for getting away from its enemies.

_Observations based upon museum trip or natural history._

1. Identify as many ungulates as you can; for example, buffalo, musk ox, big-horn sheep, Rocky Mountain goat, chamois, antelope, giraffe, red deer, elk, moose, reindeer, wild boar, peccary, rhinoceros, zebra, hippopotamus.

2. Answer the following questions about each:--

a. What is the family, scientific name?

b. What is the size of the animal? the relative length of the hind and fore legs? the relative length of the neck?

c. What is the nature of the covering of the animal?

d. Are any horns developed? If present, what is their size, shape, direction, and appearance?

e. What is the habitat of the animal? its distribution and social life?

_Summary._

In a short thesis summarize the facts you have found out about ungulates, using the following outline:--

1. Why called ungulates? Variation in number of toes.

2. General fact about the food of ungulates. The two divisions.

3. The general adaptations for protection.

4. The social life of the ungulates.

5. The native ungulates of the United States.