114 The Selection and 



fore legs nearer alike, and if properly done suc- 

 ceeds in causing animals to change hands fre- 

 quently. 



Another species of fraud consists in filing 

 down the wearing surface of the front or incisor 

 teeth of old horses, and graving hollows to re- 

 semble those of young teeth. This is called 

 "bishoping/' but by those who study the form 

 and angularity of the teeth, as well as the varied 

 changes which they undergo throughout advanc- 

 ing age, the trick is easily detected. Young 

 horses a,re also practised upon, in order to palm 

 them off at a higher price as being four or five 

 years old. 



Many breeders who aim at respectability are 

 foolishly tempted to carry out this fraud, which 

 consists in extracting the corner, and sometimes 

 the middle incisor teeth. At best it is but a very 

 clumsy and barbarous plan, and signally fails to 

 produce the appearances desired. The custom is 

 so prevalent in Ireland and other parts among 

 dealers, that it cannot long fail to attract the at- 

 tention of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to 

 Animals, and, we hope, meet with total abolition. 



The signs of age are otherwise dealt with, in 

 order if possible to obliterate them. The 

 measures, however, seldom succeed before a 

 practised eye. In animals of great age, large 

 depressions or hollows are found above the eyes, 

 and horse-copers prick through the skin and blow 

 in air, as butchers inflate the carcass. For a 



