38 OF THE TEETH. 



month, when he becomes furnished with two corner nippers 

 above and below. In very forward colts, the dentition 

 partakes also of the early evolution, and thus these corner 

 nippers, known among breeders as the shell teeth, will 

 sometimes appear as early as the eighth month ; but in cold 

 situations, with a spare supply of generous milk, they are 

 occasionally kept back mitil two or even three months 

 later. The animal has now its full ' colt's mouth ' of 

 nippers ; and the completion of the process occurs most 

 opportunely at a time when its wants, from increased 

 growth, become greater, and its maternal supplies less ; 

 the milk of the mare beginning about this time to de- 

 crease. 



This early or temporary set of nippers, as might be ex- 

 pected, differ from the permanent or horse teeth by being 

 altogether smaller and whiter, and also by having a well- 

 marked neck to each, which ends in a more pointed and 

 slender fang ; and they also have several very fine grooves 

 or furrows on their outer surfaces. They are slightly 

 rounded in front, and hollowed towards the mouth : the 

 cutting surface of each of these also rises into a sharp edge 

 in front, which fits it for tearing up the grass. But these 

 earlv teeth being less durably framed than those which are 

 to follow, soon show the marks of even the early attrition 

 they meet with. Before twelve months the teeth, there- 

 fore, show considerable wear, and all closely meet on their 

 biting or nipping surfaces. 



The molares, or grinders, although they do not yield 

 such definite characters of the age, may be usefully em- 

 ployed as auxiliaries. The foal is usually born with a 

 certain number of grinders already protruded above and 

 below. Two always appear together, and we believe the 

 third is not so frequently synchronous with the two former. 

 At a period varying between eleven and fourteen months 

 a fourth grinder is added, which is the first permanent, 

 and constitutes the fourth of the future row of permanent 

 grinders. It may, therefore, be considered, that a full 

 yearling colt or filly will have six nippers well up ; and 

 when twelve months old it will usually have four grinders on 

 each side, above and below. Before the completion of the 

 second year, the second permanent grinder is added, and 



