( 266 ) 



them alfo to cut off their ears. I fpeak not 

 of low grooms, and jockies ; we have lately 

 feen the ftuds of men of the firft fafliion, 

 mifled probably by grooms, and jockies, pro- 

 ducing only cropt-horfes. 



When a fine horfe has wide, lopping ears, 

 as he fometimes has, without fpring, or 

 motion in them; a man may be tempted to 

 remove the deformity. But to cut a pair of 

 fine ears out of the head of a horfe, is, if pof- 

 fible, a ftill greater abfurdity, than to cut off 

 his tail. Nothing can be alledged in it's 

 defence. The ear neither retards motion; 

 nor flings dirt. 



Much of the fame ground may be gone over 

 on this fubjed, which we went over on the 

 laft. With regard to the utility of the ear, it 

 is not improbable, that cropping it may injure 

 the horfe's hearing : there is certainly lefs 

 concave furface to receive the vibrations of 



the air. 1 have heard it alfo afferted with 



great confidence, that this mutilation injures 

 his health : for when a horfe has loft that 

 pent-houfe, which nature has given him over 

 his ear, it is reafonable to believe that wind, 

 and rain may get in, and give him cold. — 



Hail, 



