The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-22

~ Ia all others wnlcn tens the
tale but our investigation
Of the subject has led us to somewhat
different conclusions. and experience with
these animals has caused US not TO place
too much reliance upon Its expression in
deciding as 10 its vicious traits or do
ciiity Notwithstanding that the exam
ination of the eye is almost an Unborn
habit in judging the character OF the
creature. vet it seems that this par
ticular feature is often overestimated.
We have known persons to condemn
horses on account of the appearance OF
their eyes. saying, II never feel safe with
a horse which is always turning the
whites of its eyes at me-" but closer in
spection would have shown the ivory
white to be the result OF absence or the
coIoring matter In a part which Is usu-
ally OF a darkened hue. and was really
the natural condition OF Things rather
than vicious habit. This deviation from
the ordinary course of nature produces
a variety sometimes called watch eye.
occasionally confused, however. with an
other kind called wall eye; and here
II may not be out of place to explain tine
difference between these two peculiar
conditions
by the contrast OF the ivory white sur
rounding that part of the eye frequently
called the sight, which In its turn may
be almost black. This somewhat singu-
lar arrangement of things gives the or
gan the appearance of being ever on the
outlook. watching, as It were some
horses have both eyes constructed on
the watch-eye plan. and 1t gives the an
imal a rather wild expression. when In
point Of fact 1t may be very docile
creature.
The wall eye. on the other hand, Is a
condition due to the absence OF colorisg
matter, this time In the interior OF the
organ, giving 1t n blush or steei-gray
appearance which IL a striking contrast
to the soft brown eyes so OFTEN noticed
in horses.
It must not be inferred that the eye
should be entirely disregarded in FORM
ing an opinion as to the character OF a
horse. but II should be remembered that
its expression is materially influenced
by the attitude of the ear. an organ
which is often lost sight of a. far az
being an index to the animals character
is concerned.
led us to regard the ear with much care.
as it's attitude and movements indicate
quite a variety of conditions; horses
whose ears are ever restless without APP
parent cause are frequently ultra-nerv-
Gus creatures. well worth watching.
Again. the restless ear will sometimes
point to detective eyesight. which may
be accompanied with partial or total
loss Oh vision, while animals which throw
them closely back upon the poll are Of
ten inclined to nip or bite. Indeed. this
very attitude is frequently signal for
combat.
On the other hand horses whose ears are
kept nearly in the same position most of
the time are more than likely to be dull.
stupid creatures, II they are not totally
deaf. Deafness in horses Is not at all
common thing. though we occasionally
meet with cases in which the animals at
tention cannot be attracted by sound
The ear OF the horse Is not only par
tial index to the animals character as far
as vice and docility are concerned. but
Its movements will at times sound the
keynote of danger or warn us to be on
the alert. In this connection somewhat
remarkable incident was related to the
writer a few years ago by one OF the
Union soldiers who escaped through that
famous hole of Libby prison. but was aft