animal is so beautfully proportioned. That of some beasts, especially of the savage kinds, as the lion, and pard, is naturally rounded and has little form. The ears of other animals, as the fox and cat, are pointed, short and thick. Those of the cow are round and heavy. The hare and ass's ears are long, and nearly of the same thickness. The dog and swine have flapping ears. The sheep, alone has ears, which may be compared with those of the horse. The ear of the horse receives great beauty also from it's colour, as well as form. The ears of bay and grey horses are generally tipped with black, which melts into the colour of the head. But the ear of the horse re ceives it's greatest beauty from motion. The ear of no animal has that vibrating power. The ears of a spirited horse are continually in motion; quivering and darting their sharp points towards every object which is presented: and the action is still more beautiful, when the cars are so well set on, that the points are drawn nearly together. But it is not only the quivering motion of the horse's ears, that we admire; we admire them also as the interpreters of his passions, particularly of fear, which some denominate courage; and of anger, or malice. The former he expresses by darting them forward; the latter, by laying them back.
Tho' nothing I can say on the subject, I am well persuaded, can weigh against the authority of grooms, and jockies, so as to make a general reform; yet if, here and there, a small party could be raised in opposition to this strange custom, it might, in lime, perhaps obtain fashion on it's side." This reasoning will apply with equal force against the mutilation of dogs and other animals.
