CHAPTER XIII. 

 THE EAR. 



THE ear of the horse is divided into several parts. The 

 inner pari, or drum of the ear, is situated in the 

 hardest bone of the body, called the petrosal. The 

 nerve which passes into the drum of the ear and 

 gives the sense of hearing, is called the auditory nerve. From 

 the drum a small opening passes out into the outer part of 

 the ear; this is the portion which is seen on top of the head. 

 It is made up of a membrane known as the cartilage, which 

 gives the ear its stiffness. This cartilage is covered by a 

 fine, delicate skin, covered on the outside by fine, short hair. 

 Situated on the inner side of the outer ear are numerous long 

 hairs projecting outward, the use of which is to keep foreign 

 bodies from dropping into the ear. The ear is moved back- 

 ward and forward by small muscles which are attached 

 around it. 



