214 HEAD AND NECK. 



displayed, the ears are pressed back close on the neck, 

 the front teeth are exposed by the drawing back of the 

 lips, and a hind foot is kept raised off the ground. I 

 have, however, known horses of most placid temper 

 whose eyes showed a great deal of white all round the 

 iris (the coloured portion of the eye), on account of the 

 iris being abnormally small. Under ordinary conditions, 

 the human eye always exhibits a good deal of white, but 

 the horse's eye, as a rule, does not do so, except when 

 its glance is directed to the rear or inwards. Some 

 game, honest horses (like St. Gatien, for instance) show, 

 without looking in a backward direction, a certain amount 

 of white of the eye, which, when it is of a constant red- 

 dish tinge, is thought by some to indicate hardiness of 

 constitution and staying power. 



On page 208, I have alluded to the tendency which 

 horses have to show the white of their eyes, when under 

 the influence of fear or anger. 



Hollows above the Eyes. — The existence of deep 

 hollows above the eyes is objectionable, for it denotes 

 that the animal is old and more or less worn out, or that 

 either its sire or dam was well advanced in years when it 

 was bred, and, consequently, that it is somewhat wanting 

 in vigour. 



Nostrils. — The nostrils should be thin, flexible and of 

 ample capacity, so as to suggest the possession of large air- 

 passages. During rest, they should be more or less closed. 

 If they are kept constantly dilated when the breathing 

 ought to be tranquil, we may infer that the animal has 

 something wrong with his " wind." 



Lips. — The lips should be lean and comparatively thin ; 

 should possess considerable power of movement ; and, as 

 a rule, should be kept closed, for the sake of appearance. 

 We may generally consider that a pendant condition of 



