HOW TO TELIx THE AGE. 



IT is sometimes very important to be able to determine the age of 

 a horse ; and as this is indicated most surely by the teeth, I have 

 had made, under my special supervision, a large proportion of 

 the illustrations here given, which will be found the fullest and most 



Fig. 373.— The Teeth. 



complete published in this country. I encountered very serious dif- 

 ficulties in obtaining these illustrations, as I found it next to impos- 

 sible to give the artist an idea of the changes occurring in the teeth 

 and form of the jaw with age, but they are as accurate as I could se- 

 cure. I have tried also to make 



the description so simple as to 



enable any ordinary person to 



determine the age of horses 



with considerable accuracy, or 



so nearly as to prevent being 



seriously imposed upon. In 



doing this, I have not hesitated 



to appropriate the language o 



others when adapted to my 



purpose. 



At first the jaw is small, and 

 to accommodate the position, temporary, or what is termed milk 

 teeth, are grown ; these are succeeded by permanent teeth, as the 

 jaws become larger and stronger. As the front teeth, or nippers, 

 only are usually studied to note the changes which determine the 



(121) 



Fig. 373.— One 

 Week Old. 



Fig. 374.— Six Weeks. 



