226 CONFESSIONS OF A HOKSE DEALER. 



these front teeth are used for "a two-fold purpose, that 

 of holding and cropping the herbage, the latter opera- 

 tion being assisted by a sharp twitch of the head. The 

 ox or cow, on the contrary, use the tongue to gather 

 their food, that organ being so employed as to encircle 

 a small tuft of grass, which is placed by it between 

 the incisors and an elastic pad opposite to them in the 

 upper jaw ; between these the herbage is pressed, and 

 partly cut, its complete severance being effected by 

 tearing. 



The sheep gathers its food in a similar manner to the 

 horse, and is enabled to bring its cutting teeth onuch 

 nearer to the roots of the plants, in consequence of the 

 upper lip being partially cleft a wise provision of 

 Nature* When prostrate on the ground, in getting up 

 the horse rises first on his fore-legs, and completes the 

 operation by raising his hind-quarters. The ox, on the 

 other hand, rises first on his hind-legs, then remains a 

 short time on his knees, until his hind-legs are straight- 

 ened, and the raising of his fore-hand completes the 

 standing position. 



I have heard it asserted by many horsemen, that in 

 his wild state the horse has no intermediate pace be- 

 tween a walk and a gallop. It has never been my lot 

 to see a herd of wild horses, but I have seen herds of 

 wild ponies in Wales and Exmoor Forest, as also troops 

 of colts and fillies that have never been haltered, and I 

 can affirm that I have noticed many ot them indulge in 

 a fair round trot, bending their knees and setting their 



