THE HORSE 347 



the nostrils, and slightly resembles the lion's roar. 

 The animal's chief mode of defense, kicking, is sure 

 to accompany it. Finally, the note of pain is a deep 

 groan, becoming weaker and weaker, subsiding and 

 then coming again with the alternate inspiration and 

 expiration. ' ' 



' i So when the horse shows its big teeth and seems 

 to laugh, it wants something," Emile broke in. 



"Yes, my friend. It is hungry and tired, and it 

 thinks of the repose of the stable, of the crib filled 

 with hay, of the manger with its savory peck of oats. 

 Perhaps it has heard the joyful neighing of its mates 

 and wishes to join them. Horses that are most 

 given to neighing with eagerness or desire are the 

 best horses, the most spirited." 



"And if they lay their ears back they want to 

 bite?" 



"Yes, that is their way of giving notice that they 

 are going to have revenge for some ill-treatment, by 

 biting. 



"In our talk on the Auxiliaries, I have already 

 told you of the remarkable structure of their teeth; 

 in particular I showed you how the horse's molars, 

 or grinders, are arranged so as to grind the tough 

 fodder like mill-stones. A very hard substance 

 called enamel, capable of striking fire like flint, cov- 

 ers the teeth and extends into the underlying and 

 less resistant mass of ivory, forming on the crown of 

 each molar a number of sinuous folds. These hard 

 folds constitute a kind of strong file which tears in 

 pieces the blades of forage when the opposite molar 



