438 



NAVIN ON THE HOESE. 



years of age, he will slied the front pair of ni2:>pers in each 

 jaw. Some early colts change sooner than this; but those 

 foaled in May or June commence showing signs of casting the 



middle teeth in the spring. The gum 

 will have the appearance of receding, 

 and very soon the fang of the old tooth 

 will be quite absorbed, and the young 

 tooth wdll appear in its place as if it 

 had pushed the old one out. This is 

 called the three-year.-old mouth. The up- 

 per pair of front nippers are usually cast 

 first, and then the lower. While these 

 new teeth are growing, the colt may have some difiiculty in 

 obtaining sufficient food by grazing, and if so, should be fed 

 on bran or other soft food. The colt should be well fed while 

 shedding his teeth. 



The accompanying cut represents the three-year-old mouth. 

 The two middle nippers are not grown to their full length. 

 They are slow in their growth, and it is well they should be, 

 for otherwise they would stick up above the others, and the 

 colt could not nip with all together. When full-grown they 

 are longer than the temporary teeth, and also wider, which 

 might 'seem impossible, as they are destined to occupy the 

 same position; but the colt's teeth are constantly diminishing 

 in size by wearing off at the top, and becoming narrovv'er, as 

 they are smaller toward the root tl^an at the top ; the jaw is 

 also growing, which makes the spaces between the teeth wider, 

 and thus room is afforded for the larger permanent teeth. 



The llrst incisors are somewhat round on the outside, and a 

 little hollowing on the inside; their surface is also smooth. 

 The new ones have two grooves on the front side, extending 

 from the edge downward. The new ones have a mark, the 

 same as their predecessors. It is long, narrow, deep, and black. 

 In the three-year-old mouth the mark in the second pair of 

 nippers is almost, if not entirely, obliterated, and fast wearing 



