TRICKS OF DEALERS. 59 



Let us hope that no one would be so fooHsh as 

 to be misled by a trick of this kind. The term 

 " bishoping " is applied to a trick practised 

 upon the incisor teeth for making the horse 

 younger. It is the production of an artificial mark, 

 or infundibulum, by means of a hot iron. The 

 corner teeth are those usually operated upon, and 

 sometimes the whole of the lower incisors are 

 equally marked, which, of course, is sufficient 

 evidence of knavery. It is easily told, because 

 the inner enamel is absent. The hollow rings 

 above the eyes in old horses are sometimes puffed 

 up with air to make the animal look younger. But 

 this cavity is often very deep in young horses, more 

 especially when such are the progeny of old 

 animals. 



Sex. 



Contractors and others usually prefer to purchase 

 geldings in preference to mares, and, speaking in a 

 general way, the prices of the former are usually a 

 little higher. However, for agriculturists mares 

 are probably more useful, because they can, in 

 the event of their becoming lame, etc., be used 

 for breeding purposes. Many believe that they 

 are stronger than geldings, and more durable. For 



