CONFORMATION 177 



foot, or coffin-bone, which runs into the toe ; and the other, 

 a small one, situated at the posterior part of the pastern, 

 immediately over the tongue of the frog. The extensor 

 tendon is fixed into the upper front portion of the coffin- 

 bone ; while the flexor perforans passes underneath the 

 navicular- bone and is attached to nearly the centre of the 

 underneath part of the coffin-bone. Immediately below 

 the last tendon, and the navicular-bone, is the sensible frog 

 interposed between them and the horny frog, consisting of 

 a fatty substance, comprising oil, elastic cellular membrane, 

 and cartilage. The further protection of the under portion 

 of the coffin-bone is provided by a sensible sole, thickest at 

 the toe, attached to the bone above and the horny sole 

 below ; and its upper surface is guarded by sensible, and 

 horny laminse, interposed between it and the horny outside, 

 and which bear a superficial resemblance to the gills of 

 an ordinary mushroom. Unless a shoeing-smith is well 

 acquainted with the anatomy of the foot, and merely looks 

 upon it as a horny box, there is an excellent chance of his 

 driving a nail into at least the horny laminse, if not into 

 still more tender parts ! 



The Points of a Horse. 



The mechanism of the horse having now been considered 

 in detail, which applies alike to the thoroughbred horse and 

 the cart-horse, a summing-up of the general points will be 

 appropriate, though these will refer more especially to the 

 well-bred animal. The head should have length, and be 

 lean, and unmistakably indicate the sex, for a small, pretty 

 head for a male animal, or a masculine-looking head for a 

 female, are never to be desired, and are apt to be only too 

 true indications of contrary tempers. The forehead should 

 be wide, giving promise of sense. The eye is an especial 

 indicator of the mental attributes, a clear large full eye 

 nearly always indicating a generous disposition, while a 

 sullen-looking small "pig-eye," gives equal warning of a sulky 

 character, one not to be depended on when the moment 

 demands an extra exertion. The ears should be long, and 



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