16 THE HORSE. 



are remarkable, as more fleshy within than the mid- 

 dle, or front teeth, which reach their full growth in 

 two or three weeks ; whereas the corner teeth grow 

 more leisurely, and are different from the fore ones, 

 in that they resemble a shell, thence, by horsemen, 

 they are styled at that period, shelly ; the shell, or 

 mark teeth. In the process of growth, the shell, with 

 these teeth, gradually disappears, leaving a vacuum. 

 At six years old, this vacuum or hollowness begins 

 to fill up, and the first fleshy substance becomes a 

 brownish or dark spot, the mark, resembling the 

 eye of a bean, continuing in that state, until the 

 seventh year, but gradually filling up, and the 

 mark becoming lighter in colour. The mark being- 

 filled up, the horse's mouth is said to be full. He is 

 styled aged. At eight years oM, the mark, in general, 

 is entirely obliterate. Some few, particularly certain 

 foreign horses, forming an exception, and carrying 

 the mark in their mouths until their tenth year. The 

 gross and fraudful cruelty of imposing upon a colt 

 the appearance of age, by extracting the foal's teeth, 

 as above shown, ought, on detection, to ruin the cha- 

 racter of the miscreant dealer ; also that of forging 

 the semblance of youth in the aged, which is per- 

 formed by hollowing the teeth with a graver, and 

 burning a counterfeit mark with a small iron. Loner 

 teeth are also filed down to hide age ; by which the 

 wretched animal becomes unable to chew his food. 

 Alas ! no additional period of labour is required to 

 fill to the brim, their cup of horror and misery. 



