CHAP. I. 



THE TEETH OF HORSES. 



439 



two central front teeth will become worn out, and at two years m the 

 case of the temporary dentition it will be gone, and considerably 

 diminished in the tooth on either side. 



The frauds of the breeder or the dealer may have, ere now, possibly 

 commenced. He has a likely two-year old colt that was dropped early 

 in the year, and whose good qualities are considerably developed. If 

 he could make him pass for a three-year old, he would be worth 10L 

 more. His central front teeth are extracted, the central permanent 

 teeth rapidly grow, and the mouth of the colt is apparently that of a 

 three-year old one. 



At from two years to two years and a half old, sometimes sooner, 



Fig. 97. Incisors of Horse at Three Years Old. 



The two centrals are new permanent teeth ; the two laterals and the two corners are 

 worn deciduous teeth. 



and sometimes later, according as he has been fed, a horse begins to 

 change his teeth. The pincers, which came the first, are also the first 

 that fall ; so that, at three years, he has four horse's and eight colt's 

 incisors, which are easily known apart, the former being larger, flatter, 

 and yellower than the others (fig. 96). The appearance of the teeth 

 at three years old is shown in fig. 97. 



When the horse is coming four years old he loses the teeth (the 

 laterals) on either side of the central ones, and four others supply 

 their places, which follow the same rule as the central ones. He has 

 now eight horse's incisors and four colt's. 



