LECTUJIES ON HOUSES. 
129 
convex down the front of the face, and curving down into the 
upper lip, with nostrils over-lapping, and their contracted en- 
trances beset and almost closed by long hairs ; the other small 
enough, as the saying is, “ to go into a pint-pot,” with every part 
boldly marked, and its outline, instead of a curve, being straight 
along the front, or from about the middle of the face, inclining for- 
ward or outward even beyond the perpendicular of the line of the 
face, and, instead of declining, ending abruptly in a prominent 
point, from which it turns sharply down, at a right angle nearly, to 
form the upper lip; the nostrils at the sides standing open, with 
their scanty borders seemingly insufficient to cover them, and with 
hardly any hair at their entrances. It is difficult to sketch these 
differences in words : a drawing might serve to elucidate the de- 
scription ; but, to thoroughly understand all that is said, the living 
subjects themselves must be consulted. The muzzle is a part 
very characteristic of breeding; so much so that, when other points 
are dubiously developed, great reliance may be placed upon it 
along. 
The Eyes strike the most superficial observer as tokens of 
breed. Everybody has noticed the difference between the eye of 
an ^.rabian or English racer, and that of the half or cart-bred 
horse : the bold and decided brow, and full gazelle eye of the 
former, cannot fail to attract attention. But there is a very great 
variety in eyes, and in the impression given by them ; hence one 
reason for the interminable differences in the countenances of ani- 
mals. I cannot say, myself, I admire an over-full or exceeding pro- 
minent eye; there is a sort of unnatural expression about it which 
I have often fancied has turned out to amount to — what grooms 
call — “ foolishness,” and I have, more than once, imagined such 
horses to be near-sighted. Opposed to this, we meet with the 
small, sunken, dark-looking eye, which creates a suspicion about 
temper, and particularly when an expression of what is called 
“ sourness” is to be observed in it. I have seen several in- 
stances of viciousness in horses with such eyes, and therefore am 
I biassed against them; at the same time I have known horses 
with such sour, ill-tempered-looking eyes, after having been cured 
of their vice, turn out the very best of their kind. I remember 
well a dark chestnut horse my father purchased of Dyson, after 
he had been rejected by the Artillery as a trooper, at the price of 
£30 : he had what are called pig-eyes, and a more restive, ill- 
tempered horse, perhaps, never existed. However, by dint of 
perseverance in long and daily rides by a bold and fearless horse- 
man, his rebellious spirit was at length subdued, and ultimately 
he became quiet and tractable enough “ for a child to ride ;” turn- 
ing out such a hunter as no fence could stop or the longest day 
VOL. XV. S 
