118 THE HORSE. 



If they were unrolled they would present a very considerable surface ; and 

 on every part of them is spread the substance or pulp of the olfactory, or 

 first pair of nerves. These bones, lined with dehcate membranes, and co- 

 vered by the olfactory nerves, are the seat of smell : and they are thus ex- 

 panded, because the sense of smell in the horse must, to a very consider- 

 able degree, supply the place of the sense of touch and the lessons of expe- 

 rience in the human being. By this alone is he enabled to select, amongst 

 the nutritive and poisonous herbage of the meadow, that which would sup- 

 port and not destroy him. The troops of wild horses are said to smell the 

 approach of an enemy at a very considerable distance. In his domestic state, 

 the horse does not examine the different food which is placed before him, 

 with his eye, but with his nose ; and if the smell displeases him, no coaxing 

 will induce him to eat it. He examines a stranger by the smell, and, by 

 very intelligible signs, expresses the opinion which he forms of him by this 

 inquisition. The horse will evidently recognise his favourite groom when 

 he has nothing else to indicate his approach but the sense of smell. These 

 cavities are likewise organs of voice. The sound reverberates through 

 them, and increases in loudness, as through the windings of a French horn. 



The extension of the nostril at the lower part of these cavities is an 

 important part of the face, and intimately connected with breeding, 

 courage, and speed. The horse can breathe only through the nose. 

 All the air which goes to and returns from the lungs must pass through 

 the nostrils. In the common act of breathing, these are sufficiently 

 large ; but when the animal is put on his speed, and the respiration 

 is quickened, these passages must dilate, or he will be much distressed. 

 The expanded nostril is a striking feature in the blood-horse, especially 

 when he has been excited and not over-blown. The sporting man 

 will not forget the sudden effect which is given to the countenance of 

 the hunter, when his ears become erect, and his nostrils dilate as he first 

 hears the cry of the hounds, and snorts, and scents them afar off; and the 

 painful and spasmed stretching of this part, in the poor over-driven post- 

 horse, will shew how necessary it is that the passage to the lungs should 

 be free and open. The nostril should not only be large, but the skin and 

 substance which cover the entrance into the nose should be thin and elastic, 

 that they may more readily yield, when the necessity of the animal requires 

 a greater supply of air, and afterwards return to their natural dimen- 

 sions. Therefore, nature, which adapts the animal to his situation and use, 

 has given to the cart-horse, that is seldom blown, a confined nostril, and 

 surrounded by much cellular substance, and a thick skin ; and to the horse 

 of more breeding, whose use consists in his speed and his continuance, a 

 wider nostril, and much more flexible. 



The inhabitants of some countries were accustomed to slit the nostrils 

 of their horses, that they might be less distressed in the severe and long-con- 

 tinued exertion of their speed. The Icelanders do so to the present day. 

 There is no necessity for this, for nature has made ample provision for all 

 the ordinary and even extraordinary exertion we can require from the horse*. 

 Some very powerful muscles proceed from different parts of the face, to the 

 neighbourhood of the nostrils, to draw them back, and dilate them. Four 

 of them are given in this cut, which is introduced here to complete our 



* De Grey, vhose " Complete Horseman" was published in 1657, recommends 

 that a stumbling or crippled horse should have his nose cut open, and the two tendons 

 which go to the lip divided ; and "this," says he, '' will give him the use of his legs so 

 perfectly, as that he will seldom or never trip any more." Farriers adopt many absurd 

 and criiel practices now-a-days, but nothing half so barbarous as this. 



