304 DENTITION AND AGE AS SHOWN BY TEETH, ETC. 



The tushes have reached their full growth ; the third pair of 



grinders are of their full length, and all the grinders are level. 



Cut Kb. 7 represents the mouth at seven years old. The 



mark has disappeared from the four inner teeth, and very nearly 



from the corner ones, the sec-, 

 ond pair showing about the ap- 

 pearance the first pair did at 

 six, while the latter will be 

 much more worn. The tushes 

 also begin to show marks of 

 wear, being rounded at the 

 point, still rounded outside and 

 at the edges, and becoming so 

 on the inside. 



Out No. 8 shows the eight-year-old mouth, with the mark 

 gone from all the nippers below, which, indeed is generally the 



case some time previous to his 

 attaining the full age of eight 

 years. The tushes are now 

 rounded in every way. 



Bishoping is sometimes prac- 

 ticed by jockeys, who thereby 

 give the mouth a counterfeit 

 appearance to enhance the ani- 

 mal's value. 



To accomplish this the 

 horse is cast, and a hole is punched or bored in the two corner 

 teeth resembling the depression in the seven-year-old's teeth. 

 This is then burned with a hot iron, which imparts a dark stain. 

 The second two are also slightly stamped and touched with the 

 iron. This fraud may be easily detected by the appearance of 

 the teeth in the upper jaw, which the buyer should always ex- 

 amine. 



The upper nippers retain the marks three or four years 

 longer than the lower. 



