12 



Dentition as indicative of the Age 



At nine months old the colt will have the corner incisors 

 in the mouth with their extreme anterior edges in apposition, 

 leaving a triangular space, which is seen most perfectly on a 

 side view when the lips are slightly separated. 



At this period the fourth molar, which is a permanent tootli 

 from the first, begins to protrude through the gum, and by 

 the time of the completion of the first year it is level with the 

 temporary molars ; but its surface is not worn, and the recent 

 appearance of the tooth is most important as evidence of the age 

 of one year. 



The illustration on p. 14 (Fig. 6) shows the condition of the 

 molar teeth at the completion of the first year. Three temporary 

 molars have the upper surface worn, and are thus readily 



rig. 4. — Incisors of Colt at tivo months. 



distinguished from the fourth molar, which has only recently 

 been cut. 



The illustration on p. 15 (Fig. 7) shows the shell-like character 

 of the corner teeth, and the state of the tables of the other 

 incisors in the one-year-old colt ; and it may be remarked that 

 the appearances correspond with those of the teeth of the five- 

 year-old horse ; the chief difference being that in the yearling 

 the teeth are temporary, and in the five-year-old permanent, 



organs. 



A practical horseman would perhaps feel amused at the idea 

 of the possibility of a yearling being taken for a five-year-old, 

 or a two-year-old for a six ; but in the case of rough forest- 

 ponies, in which the aspect of colthood is quickly lost, sucli 

 mistakes have occurred, and it is therefore not out of place to 

 suggest that care should be taken to discriminate between the 



