316 
E. A. A. GRANGE. 
the one which is composed of a mere shell, or grisle, enveloped 
in a layer of thin skin, which should be clothed in a coat of fine 
hair, that may, however, be somewhat meagre on the inner 
surface, especially in the summer season. 
In shape the ear should taper from the base to a rather 
sharp point at the tip; its movements should be energetic, but 
not of the quick, jerky order; they should not be slow or 
sluggish, because that would indicate a defect in hearing, or the 
animal is quite likely to be a dull, stupid brute, while those 
with quick jerky ears are liable to be vicious or ultra-nervous 
creatures. 
Experience in selecting horses has led us to observe the 
movements of the ear with much care, and regard them to 
some extent as the index to the animal’s character, for they not 
only indicate a well-balanced disposition, ,a vicious or sluggish 
horse, as the case may be, but they point to defective eyesight, 
or even total blindness, in which case the ever restless ear will 
be thrown first in one direction and then in another. 
The position of the ears upon the head plays an important 
part in the artistic appearance of it; if they are too near the 
center they cause a disagreeable, puny expression, while if they 
are too close to the lateral borders they give the head a some¬ 
what coarse expression. When erect the ears should stand 
boldly up, inclining in an oblique direction, from below upwards 
and forwards; when they project in an outward direction, 
approaching the horizontal, they are called lop-ears, a style of 
conformation that is not admired. 
The poll (Plate I, 3) is situated at the top of the head (being 
covered in part by the arch formed by the headstall of the bridle 
or halter), its shape is not often criticised, though we occasion¬ 
ally meet with saddle horses that are injured from the artistic 
standpoint owing to the poll being flat and expanded, giving 
the upper superficies of the neck and back of the head a plain, 
coarse look, and as this feature is practically always under the 
eye of the equestrian, it is very liable to diminish the value of 
the animal in the high-class saddle horse market. 
