NATURAL HISTORY. t;>f 



of the inferior jaw usually come out first at three 

 years and a half, and the two of the upper jaw at 

 four years, and till they are six years old they are ve- 

 ry sharp. At ten years old the upper ones appear 

 already blunt, worn, and long, because they are bare, 

 the gum wearing away with age. and the more they 

 are worn away, the more aged the horse is. From 

 ten till thirteen or fourteen years, there is hardly any 

 indication of the age, but then some hairs on the eye- 

 brows begin to grow white ; but this indication is 

 equivocal, since it has been remarked that horses en- 

 gendered from old stallions and old mares have the 

 hair white on the eye-brows at ten years old. There 

 are also horses whose teeth are so hard that they do 

 not wear, and upon which the black mark subsists, 

 and is never effaced ; and others which have the mark 

 in the mouth as long as they live. We may also 

 know, though with less precision, the age of a horstf 

 by the ridges of the palate, which are effaced in pro- 

 portion to his age. 



It has been remarked, that studs kept in dry and 

 light countries produce good-tempered, swift, and vi- 

 gorous horses, with nervous legs and hard hoofs ; 

 while, on the other hand, those which are bred in damp 

 places, and in fat pasturage, have generally the head' 

 large and heavy, the legs thick, the hoofs soft, and* 

 the feet flat. This difference arises from the climate 

 and food ; but, what is more difficult to be accounted 

 for, and what is still more essential than any thing" 

 that has been said, is, the necessity of always cros- 

 sing or mixing the breed, if we would prevent their 

 degenerating. 



'Mares usually go with foal eleven months and some 

 days ; they will breed commonly to the age of fourteen 



