MUSCLES OF THE HEAD AND NECK. 365 



The same is true of the muscles of the eye and its append- 

 ages, except that they are shorter than those of the mouth. 

 There are a number of thin or flat muscles attached to the ear, 

 each of which moves it in a particular direction. 



The fleshy portion of the jaw, or cheek, is composed prin- 

 cipally, of the masscter. or chewing muscle, wdiich is attached 

 both to the upper and lower jaw-bones. 



The next group of muscles is those constituting the bulk of 

 the neck. The principal of these are the splenius and complexus 

 major. The splenius arises from the ligament of the neck 

 throughout its whole length, and is attached to the transverse 

 or side processes, or projections, of all the cervical vertebrae, or 

 neck-bones, except the first, and to a projection of the tem- 

 poral bone. It is a very powerful muscle, and its office is to 

 raise the head and neck, both muscles acting together, but one 

 actino; alone to turn the head to one side. It constitutes the 

 principal bulk of the upper part of the neck. The chief 

 beauty of the neck depends on this muscle. In a well-formed 

 neck it is thick and heavy in the back and upper part of the 

 neck, arising in front of the withers almost on a line with them, 

 and gradually tapering and becoming small toward the head, 

 and formino- a o-entle curve. If the bones of the neck are 

 sufficiently long, this will give that arching of the nec-k which 

 constitutes one of the most pleasing beauties of the horse. 

 The neck, however, should present little else than muscles, as 

 much fat would give it the appearance of clumsiness. 



The compJexus major ^ or greater complex muscle, is deep- 

 seated beneath the splenius. It constitutes the greater part of 

 the bulk of the back part of the neck. It arises from the side 

 projections of the first five bones of the back, and their spines, 

 and, passing upward and forward, is attached to the ligament of 

 the neck, and to the occipital, or back skull, bone. It is by far 

 the heaviest muscle of the neck. It assists in raising and 

 curving the neck, and extends the head. 



If this muscle acts too powerfully it causes that shape of 



