THE ANIMAL CREATION, 163 



sented a distressing picture of mutilation and 

 deformity. It would be difficult to discover 

 what could possibly have given rise to these 

 needless acts of cruelty ; for it is generally 

 supposed that the outward part of the ear 

 assists the entrance of sound into the cavity of 

 it : thus we observe blind horses in particular 

 with their ears perpetually pricked ; and as 

 the power of moving the ears at pleasure has 

 not been given to ourselves, we are often seen 

 to place our hand behind them, by way of 

 introducing the coming sound to more advantage. 

 There is still another operation on the 

 horse's tail, a torment of three weeks' duration 

 at the least. To be in high beauty, he must 

 have the remains of it (after docking has been 

 performed) curved up permanently over his 

 back. This superlative act of cruelty and bad 

 taste drew down upon us a pleasant and sar- 

 castic remark from the mouths of our Gallic 

 neighbours : — " Quelle folie des Anglais ! faire 

 couper les oreilles aux chevaux, et tourner la 

 queue en Pair." 



What folly in these Englishmen appears ! 



They cock their horses' tails, and clip their pars. 



The stinking polecat, shunned by most 



M 2 



