EARS, 149 



as it affords attachment for the powerful suspensory ligament 

 of the head and neck (p. 28), and for several important 

 muscles. Large development of the occipital crest (Fig. 254) 

 is considered by some authorities to indicate corresponding 

 size of the cerebellum. 



Ears. — Personally, I cannot say much as regards the 

 indications afforded by the ears. In common, probably, 

 with most observers, I have remarked that animals which 

 move their ears in a quick decisive manner, evidently with 

 the same intent as they use their eyes to see what kind of 

 ground they are going over, are, generally, of the "clever" 

 sort which do not know how ''to put a foot wrong." Their 

 method of employing their ears is quite different to the 

 restless, -listening" (if I may use the word) style adopted 

 by horses that have defective sight. The former have their 

 attention chiefly directed to the ground in front of them ; 

 the latter distribute it on all sides. It looks well for the 

 skin and hair which covers the ears to be fine, and the 

 ears themselves thin and lean. Whether in horse or man, 

 I dislike to see ears set up high on the head, and think 

 that the part of the skull which is between them should be 

 moderately broad, as in Fig. 248. At the same time, I must 

 say that I have seen many clever horses, especially among 

 those bred in India, that had their ears close together and 

 set up high on the head, as in Fig. 253. This photograph 

 gives us an idea of the peculiar manner in which the 

 points of the ears of some Indian breeds (Kathiawars and 

 Wuzeerees, for instance) are directed inwards when the ears 

 are pricked forward. To show what diverse opinions exist 

 as to the ears of the horse, I give from different works on 

 conformation the two following extracts, which are far from 

 being in accord with each other. The reader, however, can 

 decide from his own practical experience as to their respective 

 correctness. *' There can be no greater ornament than long, 

 fine, active-looking, upright, tolerably close-set ears, with 

 the points a little inclined towards each other. I never saw 



