442 



NAVIX ON THE HOESE. 



all the grinders are level. At this period, or perhaps six months 

 previous, the horse may be said to have a perfect mouth, all 

 the changes in the teeth, except those produced by wear, 

 having been completed. Hitherto, we have been judging of 

 the horse's age by the combined indications of the growth and 

 wear. Hereafter we shall have nothing to direct us but those 



of wear. 



At seven, as the annexed cut rep- 

 resents, the mark has entirely dis- 

 appeared from the four inner teeth, 

 and very nearly from the corner 

 ones ; the second pair showing about 

 the appearance the front pair did 

 at six, while the latter will be much 

 more worn. The tushes begin to 

 show marks of wear, being rounded 

 at the point, still rounded outside and at the edges, and becom- 

 ing so on the inside. 



The next cut shows the eight-year- 

 old mouth, with the mark gone 

 from all the nippers below, which, 

 indeed, is generally the case some 

 time previous to the horse filling 

 his eighth year. The tushes are 

 now rounded in every way. As 

 soon as age commences to reduce 

 the horse, the knave sometimes 

 tries to give the mouth a counterfeit appearance to enhance 

 his value, his object being to keep the horse of the appearance 

 of seven years old, though he may be ten, or more. This is 

 called '' BisliojfAng,'' the name being derived from the rascal 

 who invented the trick. To accomplish it, the horse is thrown, 

 and a hole is punched in the two corner teeth, resembling 

 the depressions in the seven-year-old's teeth. This is then 

 burned with a hot iron, which imparts a dark stain. The 



