THE BURR BIT. 221 



during my six months' stay in the country, but never 

 saw one. So I take the account from an American 

 source, in an article entitled ' Henry Bergh and his 

 Work,' in Scribners Monthly for April 1879 : — 



* The coachmen of the city, mostly without the 

 knowledge of their employers, began using a round 

 leather bit-guard, barbed with short spikes, so that 

 when the reins were tightened the nails sunk into 

 the side of the horse's head and made the animal 

 exhibit a very fashionable degree of mettle.' 



The reader will notice that the Burr was mostly 

 employed by the coachman without the knowledge 

 of the owner. But the owner had no excuse for 

 such culpable ignorance. Mr. Bergh could discover 

 it and insist upon its removal, and if he could do so, 

 a fortiori could the owner. 



