of the Horse. 9 



The/wftWJ of the lower jaw lose their cavities when the 

 horse is five or six years old ; the intermediate fore-teeth 

 are the next to raze. The marks in the corner teeth are 

 obliterated at the age of seven or eight years. The pro- 

 cess of destruction of the marks in the upper fore-teeth 

 goes on in the same order, but more tardily. (Figs 4 and 

 5). 



Fig. 4. Six years. Fig. 5. Nine years. 



When all these various changes have taken place, the 

 horse is looked upon as aged (Fig. 7), because the teeth 

 no longer furnish any certain indications as to the age of 

 the animal. Only approximate inferences can now be 

 drawn from the length and colour of the tusks, which be- 

 come more and more bare and projecting from the gum, 

 &c. 



The domestication of the horse appears to date back 

 to the very earliest period of his appearance on earth ; 

 and as this animal adapts itself to every necessity, every 

 want, and every climate, its subjection has resulted in a 

 considerable number of races, distinguished by more or 

 less prominent characteristics of shape, strength, temper, 

 and endurance. Although generally intelligent, affection- 

 ate, and endowed with considerable powers of memory, 

 these qualities in the horse are essentially modified by 

 education and climate. And for the full development of 

 his intelligence and his high qualities, it is requisite that 

 man should be his companion and his friend, as well as 



