EARS. 



21 I 



some horses " prick their ears " more frequently than 

 others ; but, for all that, such carriage of the ears can be 

 regarded as but a temporary lighting-up of the face, and 

 not as a permanent beauty. If a horse habitually carries 

 his ears more or less directed behind him, we might sus- 

 pect him to be wanting in courage and good temper. 

 This is by no means an invariable rule, for I have met 

 some notable exceptions. 



Richard remarks that deaf horses carry their ears 



J'hoto hij] [M. H. H. 



Fig. 302. — Ends of the Ears Turned In. 



I'hot., /.«] [M. H. H. 



Fig. 303. — Usual Position of the Ears when 



Pricked Forward. 



steadily pointed in the direction they are looking, with- 

 out side '' play." Such animals are generally docile and 

 attentive to the indications received from rein and leg. 

 A horse is said to have lop ears (Fig. 304) when they 

 are usually carried in a loose and somewhat pendulous 

 manner, and they therefore lack the frequent forward, 

 backward and lateral play of those of the ordinary horse. 



14* 



