84 THE HORSE. 



column or bone, which is hollow and spongy, and, through a thousand 

 apertures in it, ramifies on the lamina of bone, twining spirally around 

 the column, and on the membranous fringe which floats in the fluid with 

 which the shell is filled, and the whole is covered by a tliick expansion of 

 nervous matter. 



The cribriform plate extends beyond the base of the shell to the vestibule, 

 and those portions of nerve there enter, which spread over the vestibule 

 and the semi-circular canals ; but the principal part of it seems to be given 

 10 the cochlea. 



What is the distinct and peculiar offices of these parts, so curiously and 

 yet so differently constructed, we know not. They are both admirably 

 adapted to render the sense of hearing fully equal to every possible want 

 of the animal. In the horse the cochlea is much larger, compared with the 

 canals than it is in the ox or sheep ; but for what especial purpose, we are 

 unable to determine : nor can we account for the large pouch-shaped 

 opening of the Eustachian tube in the horse, (fig. 9, p. 68), nor for the 

 small developements of the mastoid cells in the horse, while they ar© 

 exceedingly large in the ox. There are many parts of the frame, the pre- 

 cise use or function of which we cannot ascertain ; but, as far as we do 

 understand the mechanism of the various animals which pass under our 

 notice, all is fittest and best ; and the study of the animal frame, with 

 a view to discover the evidences of design, is pleasing and improving^. 



The Eye is a most important organ, and comes next under consideration, 

 as inclosed in the bones of the skull. The eye of the horse should be 

 large, and somewhat (but not too) prominent, and the eyelids fine and thin. 

 If the eye be sunk in the head, and apparently little (for there is actually a 

 very trifling difference in the size of the eye in animals of the same species 

 and bulk, and the seeming diflerence arises from the larger or smaller 

 opening between the lids), and the lid be thick, and especially if there 

 be any puckering towards the inner corner of the lids, that eye either is 

 diseased, or has been lately subject to inflammation ; and, particularly if 

 one eye is smaller than the other, it has been, at no great distance of time, 

 inflamed. 



The eye of the horse enables us pretty accurately to guess at his temper. 

 If much of the white be seen, the buyer should pause ere he completes his 

 bargain ; because, although it may, yet very rarely, happen that the cornea 

 or transparent part is unnaturally small, and therefore an unusual portion 

 of the white of the eye is seen, and especially when the horse is looking 

 sideways, or backward, yet experience has shown that this display of white 

 is dangerous. The mischievous horse is slyly on the look out for opportu- 

 nities to do mischief, and the frequent backward direction of the eye, when 

 tlie white is most perceptible, is only to give surer effect to the blow which 

 he is about to aim. 



We will give a cursory description of the eye, and the uses of its difTer- 

 ent parts. 



The eyes are placed at the side of the head, yet a little pointing forward, 

 to give the animal a more extended field of vision. He needs this in his 

 wild state to detect the approach of his enemies, and it is useful to him 

 when employed in our service. 



The eye is supported behind by muscles attached to different parts of the 

 bony orbit, and it is embedded in a vast mass of fat, upon which it may be 

 readily moved, and without friction ; and that fat being absorbed in sickness 

 or old age, the eye is retracted and sinks into the orbit. 



In front, the eye is supported and covered by the lids, which, closing 



