SHED OR ABSORBED. 49 



The incisors, which stand in an almost upright 

 position, are smooth and rounded on the outer sur- 

 face, but grooved on the inner. Their average length, 

 including the root, is about an inch, their width 

 about half ari inch. The molars are about an inch 

 and a quarter in length, and nearly an inch in long 

 (antero-posterior) diameter. The short (transverse) 

 diameter of the upper molars, which is about three- 

 fourths of an inch, exceeds that of the lower nearly a 

 half. Surgeon John Hughes says that in proportion 

 to their length the breadth * of the temporary teeth is 

 greater than the permanent. When first cut the in- 

 cisor teeth are very sharp ; the outer edges are higher 

 than the inner, the slant resembling that of a chisel. 

 A little wear, however, dulls the teeth, and brings the 

 edges to a common level. The contrast between the 

 edges of the corner incisors, however, is distinct for 

 some time, the outer edge wearing off slowly. 



There is a marked contrast in the appearance of the 

 incisors at the age of one year and about the close of 

 the second. At the former period they look new and 

 fresh, standing close together, while at the latter they 

 not only look old and worn, but the development of 

 the jaws has caused them to stand apart. Their nar- 

 row necks are also conspicuous at two years of age. 



The incisors are shed in the order in which they are 

 cut. Nature provides them as they are needed, and 

 takes them away so as to cause the least inconvenience 

 to the foal. During the shedding of the central inci- 

 sors foals have the use of the dividers and corners. 

 The permanent centrals are ready for use before the 

 dividers are shed, and the permanent dividers are 



* " Breadth is antero-posterior diameter ; thickness is trans- 

 verse diameter." R. Owen 

 3 



