THE CHARACTERS FURNISHED BY THE TEETH. 649 



to face, it follows that the characters of the age can never he formulated 

 upon absolute principles. To endeavor to establish, upon this point, 

 some invariable principles would be systematizing beyond all rational 

 bounds and in defiance of the most elementary observation. 



We will therefore give the reader nothing more than altogether 

 general indications, and he will have to interpret them, saying to him- 

 self that the loear of the dental apparatus is manifested rather in this 

 manner than othenoise. His theoretical knowledge and his practical 

 sense, his perception, and his good judgment will do the rest. Called 

 upon to exercise his judgment in certain localities in purchasing for 

 himself or for others horses differing as to their intended service, it 

 will be his duty to examine, at the beginning, some particular types 

 of jaws ; tlius he will be enabled, at the end of a relatively short 

 time, to recognize the age with an accuracy sometimes surprising. 

 Passing into other localities, he will be obliged to complete his tech- 

 nical education and adapt himself to new mouths and to new types 

 of wear. 



In the remarks which follow, we will first review the actual state 

 of the science, and add thereto our own views and observations ; then 

 we will present for the consideration of the reader a series of plates, 

 chosen from the numerous authentic mouths of our collection, and as to 

 which we will furnish some explanatory information. 



In France, all foals, save those which are thoroughbred, are sup- 

 posed to be born in spring-time,^ — that is to say, in the season of the 

 year when pasturage is abundant and affords a convenient nourish- 

 ment for the young animals. There are, nevertheless, some exceptions 

 in this respect, and it is on account* of the variable periods of the 

 dressing and the sale of the animals that it is necessary to employ 

 . certain variations in the terminology by the use of the following 

 expressions : 



It is said that a horse is coming or rising to a certain age when his 

 mouth is at the point of presenting the classical characters of the age to 

 which reference is made ; for example, a rising six-year-old. He has a 

 certain age when all these characters really exist. Finally, he is pxist 

 a certain age Avhen these characters, more marked, commence to dis- 

 appear, to be replaced by those of the age which immediately follows 

 that which was previously indicated ; for example, a six-year-old past. 



The knowledge of the age of horses is based upon the observations 



1 It is not the same in England, at least for thoroughbred horses, whose age is always esti- 

 mated from the 1st of January. 



