OF THE HORSE. 19 



minute or two the pupil may be observed to contract ; that 

 is, supposing the eye to be free from disease. A blind 

 horse, moreover, usually carries his ears as though alarmed, 

 in quick changes of direction, and hangs back on his bridle 

 or halter, lifting his legs up very high ; in fact, he presents 

 every indication that a person blindfold would do. When 

 the iris, or moving curtain that immediately surrounds the 

 pupil or opening into the eye, is of a lighter colour than 

 brown, such horses are said to be luall-eyed ; but, however 

 it may detract from beauty, it no farther affects the eye. 

 In some horses, the transparent cornea is small in its cir- 

 cumference, in which case the animal shows much of the 

 luhite of the eye. It is of consequence to distinguish such 

 instances from others, in which, though the opaque or lohite 

 coat may be of its natural dimensions, yet from the greater 

 contraction and dilatation of the eyelid, more of it is seen. 

 In the former case, it is evident that the white of the eye 

 shows itself in a greater degree, merely from a small super- 

 fices of transparent cornea. This is the natural form of the 

 organ, and can have nothing to do with the temper : but, 

 in the latter instance, a large appearance of white may be 

 viewed as an indication of a vicious disposition ; for extra- 

 ordinary motions of either the eyes or ears, and particu- 

 larly where they act in unison, are indications of the 

 passions of the animal. If a horse be suspicious, he 

 generally looks out for opportunities to revenge former 

 injuries, or to repel new imaginary attacks ; and the re- 

 tro verted direction of the eye, in which, of course, much of 

 the ivhite is seen, is merely intended to guide the blow he 

 meditates. 



The face comprehends the part betw^een and below the 

 eyes : a spot of white or star in the forehead is deemed a 

 beauty, but much white is a blemish. If white extends 

 down the face, it is termed a Maze ; and, when continued 

 into the muzzle, it is called hlaze and snip. If, with a star, 

 white begins below the place of the star, and is then carried 

 downwards, it is called a race. Thus, when a stolen horse 

 is described, these distinctions become useful ; and, in regi- 

 mental accounts of the marks of horses, they are particu- 

 larly attended to. Such an advertised horse is said to have 

 star, race, and snip white, while another has a hlaze only. 



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