114 



somewhat retracted, while the incisors have taken a 

 horizontal direction. No sign, however, save the 

 protrusion of the tongue, is positive. The general cha- 

 racter is that of advanced age, and this general 

 character, at once recognised by the eye of experience, 

 is more to be depended upon than the teeth them- 

 selves. The teeth have novy assumed the permanent 

 character of old age ; and in the figure of the tables 

 will undergo no further alteration upon which any 

 dependance can be placed. Up to the sixteenth 

 year, however, the tables deserve to be consulted. 

 Below is exhibited such evidence as they present, 

 which the reader will perceive is so nice and deli- 

 cately marked as to be easily misinterpreted. In the 

 tables which belonged to the fourteenth year, it will 

 be seen the infundibula are almost gone, a speck 

 alone denotes their latest trace ; nevertheless, the next 

 wood-cut, which exhibits the tables at the sixteenth 

 year, will show that the absence of the infundibula 

 is not to be relied upon. Still the advance in 

 age is, though feebly, indicated. The central incisor 

 has assumed a form which is peculiarly characteristic 

 of age in the horse. It is seldom that at sixteen 



