NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HORSE. 9S 



first teeth, and causing their absorption. But, opposition from 

 the first set being removed, it is easy to imagine that their pro- 

 gress will be more rapid. Three or four months will be gained 

 in the appearance of these teeth, and these three or four months 

 will enable the breeder to term him a late colt of the preceding 

 year. To him, however, who is accustomed to horses, the 

 general form of the animal, the little development of the fore- 

 hand, the continuance of the mark upon the next pair of nippers, 

 its more evident existence in the corner ones, some enlarge- 

 ment or irregularity about the gums from the violence used in 

 forcing out the teeth, the small growth of the first and fifth 

 grinders, and the non-appearance of the sixth grinder, which, 

 if it be not through the gum at three years old, is swelling under 

 it, and preparing to get through — any or all of these circum- 

 stances, carefully attended to, will be a sufficient security against 

 deception. 



A horse at three years old ought to have the central per- 

 manent nippers growing, the other two pairs wasting, six 

 grinders in each jaw, above and below, the first and fifth level, 

 the others and the sixth protruding. The sharp edge of new 

 incisors, although it could not well be expressed in the cut, wil] 

 be very evident when compared with the old teeth. 



As the permanent nippers wear and continue to grow, a 

 narrow portion of the cone-shaped tooth is exposed by the 

 attrition, and they look as if they had been compressed, but it 

 is not so, Kot only will the mark be wearing out, but the 

 -rowns of the teeth will be sensibly smaller. 



At three years and a half, or between that and four, the next 

 ^•>air of nippers will be changed, and the mouth at that time 

 cannot be mistaken. The central nippers will have attained 



