THE EQUID^E, OR HORSES. 207 



k During the sixth decade of the present century, 

 there was exhibited in Munich a horse under the 

 name of a " stag-horse," which had veritable hip- 

 par ion feet. The splint bones of the four extrem- 

 ities had digits, that is, toes. The so-called 

 " chestnuts " existed on all the four limbs, and were 

 strongly developed, whereas all the four " spurs ' 

 were wholly wanting. 1 On the fore-feet the medial 

 side-hoof (second digit) was most fully developed, 

 on the hind-feet it was the lateral or fourth toe. As 

 the side-hoofs of all the extremities did not reach 

 the ground, and hence were not worn, they had 

 grown to a considerable length, and were bent like 

 horns. Such cases are of great rarity ; still they 

 had been observed even in earlier times. The 

 famous Bucephalus of Alexander the Great is said 

 to have been an animal of this kind. Moreover, 

 the atavism is said in some instances to have been 

 transmitted to the offspring, which of course is very 

 probable. It is more than probable that from a 

 single animal of this description a breed of Hip- 

 parion-horses might be reared. There would, 



1 This observation would certainly support the opinion, which 

 we are inclined to doubt, that the ' chestnuts ' and ' spurs ' were 

 rudiments of the first, second, and fifth hoofs. If, nevertheless, 

 I hold to my doubt, at all events as regards the atavism of the 

 thumb, I do so because it would be a unique phenomenon. 



