and fibula; the latter is a small bone behind; these are also called the ham bones; TT, the bones of the tarsus, or hock, six in number; UU, the metatarsals of the hind leg, called shank or cannon bones; W W, the os calcis, or point of the hock; X X X X, the sesamoid, or fetlock bones. The following Plate shows the age of a horse from the teeth.

The horse, in a state of maturity, which is at five years, has forty teeth. has forty teeth. He has six incisory or cutting teeth, in each jaw; these are situated in front; two canine teeth, or tusks, in each jaw, situated behind the incisors; and six molars, or grinding teeth, in each jaw, situated behind the tushes.

The age of a horse is known by certain marks on their incisory teeth, but no reference whatever is made to the grinders.

FIG. 1. Represents the anterior portions of the lower jaw of a foal, with the two central incisory teeth, or nippers, which make their appearance in seven or eight days after birth.

FIG. 2. Between two and three months the centre nippers have reached their proper level, and the second pair grown as represented.

FIG. 3. represents the nippers complete in number at a year old, the four middle teeth being worn level, and the two outer ones becoming flat, the mark of the two middle teeth get faint and wide, in the next two it becomes darker, and more narrow, being darker, longer, and narrower in the outer jaw.

FIG. 4. the nippers at two years old, which exhibit a considerable change, in the shape and markings.

FIG. 5. shews the nippers at three years old; the central ones being considerably larger than the others, doubly grooved on their outer convex sur

face. The marks on the next two incisors being nearly obliterated, and beginning to disappear in the corner nippers. When a horse is rising three years, his two central nippers above and below, fall out, and are replaced by new ones, having the hollow mark in the middle, at the end of this year the tusks will have made their appearance, as represented in the figure; there is also a visible difference in the form of the jaw.

FIG. 6. the nippers at four years; the central nippers are perfectly formed, and the sharp edges a little worn off, with the mark shorter, wider, and fainter.

FIG. 7. at five years the jaw is nearly perfect, the tusks are much developed.

FIG. 8. in the sixth year the marks in the centre nippers are worn out. There will however, be some difference of colour in the centre of the tooth, as the cement or enamel which fills the cavity, is of a brownish hue.

FIG. 9. represents the jaw at eight years old; at which period the marks on the lower jaw are nearly filled up; but on the upper jaw they generally continue till ten; the two central ones are obliterated at eight.

At this period the disgraceful practice of Bishoping is often resorted to; a term given from the name of the villanous inventor. The marks on the surface of the corner nippers, which have now

nearly become plain, are imitated as at the age of seven, by an engraving tool; they are then burned with a hot iron, when a permanent black stain is left. This practice is sometimes employed on the next pair of nippers, in a slight degree. By this infamous trick, the ignorant are often imposed on. But the irregular appearance of the cavity, the diffusion of the black stain around the tusks, the sharpened edges, and concave inner surfaces, are wanting, which no art can imitate ;-thus, an attentive observer need not be deceived.

FIG. 10. shews the nippers at ten, when merely the rudiment of the funnel remains.

FIG. 11. A jaw at twelve year old, the nippers have lost the centre enamel, and the septum of the root is wounded.

FIG. 12. represents the jaw at sixteen; all the nippers have become triangular in shape; and the septum of the root forms a rounded point, on all the tables of the teeth.

The above description applies to the teeth of the ass, mule, zebra, and quagga, which all undergo a similar change.

Osmer, an old, but able, and well accredited writer on the horse, defines the meaning of the term, blood, as applied to the horse called thoroughbred, to be a certain elegance of parts, derived from air, climate, food, and training. This being suitable to the true natural conformation of the animal,

enables him to perform extraordinary feats of activity and motion, coupled with wonderful endurance of the highest bodily exertion; hence, he explains, the expression, "he shows a vast deal of blood," means only true formation as a race horse. Where," continues this writer, "is the blood of the ostrich, whose speed so far excels that of the swiftest horse? If the good qualities of the race horse depend upon blood, we could not, as we often do, see one horse very good, and his brother, with equal advantages of good keep and training, very bad."

Osmer censures the folly of expecting that what is termed high blood in the Eastern horses, un-accompanied with essential form, will produce a race horse; and he instances the many failures that have occurred, in breeding according to this rule, without reference to the important truth, that blood can never be considered as independent of form or substance.

Although we must allow, that there is much truth in the foregoing observations, nevertheless we conceive that Osmer, in the endeavour to obtain for the effect, the weight to which it is most undoubtedly entitled, has entirely overlooked the cause to which its production may be ascribed. He would have blood to consist in mechanical excellence alone; while we maintain that excellence to be the result of blood never to exist without it-and