146 HEAD AND NECK. 



clearly explain in words as it is to show in a photograph ; 

 although its recognition in actual practice is an easy matter. 



It is regarded as a beauty for the eyes to be set high up 

 in the head. As far as I can see, their position varies but 

 little in the horse. In the mountain zebra (Fig. 257) they are 

 set rather low down. 



The bones on the sides of the nose are prominent in 

 youth, but gradually ''fall in" with age, on account of the 

 fangs of the back teeth, which are lodged in them, descending 

 lower and lower as the animal grows older. 



This change in the form of the nose will serve to indicate, 

 to somfe extent, the age of the horse. 



Size of Brain. — Without entering into any physiological 

 argument we may assume that, as a rule, size of brain is an 

 indication of brain power. According to the classic idea 

 entertained by writers on equine conformation, a large 

 development of brain is a desirable ''point" in the horse. 

 Thus we read in Achat du Cheval^ by Gayot, that: '*The 

 more voluminous is the brain, the larger is the spinal cord, 

 proportionate to the size of which are the nerves that issue 

 from it. It is thus that a large forehead, denoting a high 

 degree of intelligence, is the index of a good nervous system 

 — that is to say, of high mental and physical qualities." As 

 regards this, I would suggest a doubt respecting the connec- 

 tion claimed between " high mental and physical qualities." 

 It did not exist among the ancient gladiators, nor does it 

 in the case of our modern prize-fighters and pedestrians. 

 Although the bull-dog is stronger and the greyhound faster 

 for their size than the poodle and collie, they are certainly 

 not more intelligent. A long and intimate acquaintance with 

 horses — especially that acquired during my professional horse- 

 breaking tours — convinces me that a comparatively high 

 degree of mental {le, reasoning) power is not desirable in a 

 horse ; because it is apt to make him impatient of control by 

 man. A jibber in harness, or a refuser in the hunting-field, 

 when the vice has not been induced by pain or infirmity, such 



