THE SENSORIAL FUNCTION. 81 



tell by the expressive motion of that organ, almost all that he thinks or means. It is 

 a common saying, that when a horse lays his ears flat back upon his neck, and keeps 

 them so, he most assuredly is meditating mischief, and the stander-by should beware 

 of his heels or his teeth. In play, the ears will be laid back, but not so decidedly, or 

 so long. A quick change in their position, and more particularly the expression of 

 the eye at the time, will distinguish between playfulness and vice. 



The external ear is formed by a cartilage of an oval or cone-like shape, ilexible, 

 yet firm, and terminating in a point. It has, directed towards the side, yet somewhat 

 pointing forward, a large opening extending from the top to the bottom. The inten- 

 tion of this is to collect the sound, and convey it to the interior part of the ear. 



The hearing of the horse is remarkably acute. A thousand vibrations of the air, 

 too slight to make any impression on the human ear, are readily perceived by him. 

 It is well known to every hunting-man, that the cry of the hounds will be recognised 

 by the horse, and his ears will be erect, and he will be all spirit and impatience, a 

 considerable time before the rider is conscious of the least sound. Need anything 

 more be said to expose the absurdity of cropping ? 



This custom of cutting the ears of the horse originated, to its shame, in Great 

 Britain, and for many years was a practice cruel to the animal, depriving him of 

 much of his beauty ; and so obstinately pursued, that at length the deformity became 

 in some hereditary, and a breed of horses born without ears was produced. Fortu- 

 nately for this too-often abused animal, cropping is not now the fashion. Some 

 thoughtless or unfeeling young men endeavoured, a little while ago, again to intro- 

 duce it, but the voice of reason and humanity prevailed.* 



This cartilage, the Mnch or shell, is attached to the head by ligaments, and 

 sustained by muscles, on which its action depends. It rests upon another cartilage, 

 round without, and irregular within, called the annular, ring-like, cartilage, and con- 

 ducting to the interior of the ear ; and it is likewise supported and moved by a third 

 small cartilage, placed at the fore part of the base of the conch, and into which 

 several muscles are inserted. 



The ear is covered by skin thinner than in most other parts of the body, and alto- 

 gether destitute of fat, in order that it may not be too bulky and heavy, and may be 

 more easily moved. Under the skin lining the inside of the cartilage are numerous 

 glands that secrete or throw out, a scaly white greasy matter, which may be rubbed 

 off with the finger and is ile^'inod to supple this part of the ear and to keep it soft 

 and smooth. Below this are oth<^r glands which pour out a peculiar, sticky, bitter 

 fluid — the wax — probably displeasing to insects, and therefore deterring them from 

 crawling down the ear and annoying the animal, or by its stickiness arresting their 

 progress. 



The internal part of the conch is covered with long hair which stands across the 

 passage in every direction. This likewise is to protect the ear from insects, that can 

 with difficulty penetrate through tliis thick defence. The cold air is likewise pre- 

 vented from reaching the interior of the ear, and the sound is moderated, not arrested 

 — penetrating readily but not violently — and not striking injuriously on the mem- 

 brane covering the drum of the ear. Can these purposes be accomplished, when it 

 is the custom of so many carters and grooms to cut out the hair of the ear so closely 

 and industriously as they do] The groom who singes it to the root with a candle 

 must either be very ignorant or very brutal. It can scarcely be accomplished without 

 singeing the ear as well as the hair. Many a troublesome sore is occasioned by this ; 

 and many a horse, that was perfectly quiet before, rendered difficult to handle or to 

 halter, and even disposed to be otherwise vicious, from a recollection of the pain 

 which he suffered during the absurd and barbarous operation. 



* Professor Grognier, in his excellent work, " Precis d'un Cours d'Hygiene Veterinaire," 

 speaking of this abominable custom, says, " And thus the English completely destroy or dis- 

 figure two organs which embellish the head of the most beaiuiful of all animals, and which, 

 by their various motions, indicate th° thoughts that are passing through his mind — the passions 

 which agitate him, and, especinlly, the designs which he may be meditating, and which it is 

 often of great importance to learn, in order to guard against the danger which may be at 

 hand." L 



