264 THE HORSE. 



same appearance as already described in the lower nippers at six 

 years old. Both tushes are considerably worn away at their points, 

 and the upper ones % more so than the lower. 



AT NINE YEARS OF AGE the upper middle nippers are worn 

 down completely. The next pair have a slight mark left, but 

 their surfaces are quite level, and the corner nippers have only a 

 black stain, without any central depression. 



FlG. 9. LOWER NIPPERS AND LEFT TUSH OP A VERY OLD HORSE, THE RIGHT HAVING 

 FALLEN OUT. 



AFTER NINE YEARS the age of the horse can only be guessed 

 at from his teeth, which gradually grow in length, and are more 

 in a line with the jaw. The section of each nipper presented to 

 the eye becomes more and more triangular instead of being oval, 

 as seen in figs. 7 and 8 j but after about the twelfth year the 

 triangular section disappears, and the tooth becomes nearly round. 

 In accordance with the increase of length is the color of the 

 tooth altered, being of a dirty yellow in very old horses, with 

 occasional streaks of brown and black. The tushes wear down to 

 a very small size, and very often one or both drop out. 



ALLUSION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE to the practice of re- 

 moving the milk nippers for the purpose of inducing a more rapid 

 growth of the next set, which, however, is not materially affected 

 by the operation ; but dishonest dealers have recourse to another 

 deception, called bishoping, by which an aged horse may be passed 

 off upon an inexperienced person for a six-year old. The plan 

 adopted is to cut off all the nippers with a saw to the proper length, 

 and then with a cutting instrument the operator scoops out an oval 



