162 



ANIMAL MECHANISM. 



portanco ; we are led to suppose, by tlie extremely slight re- 

 actions of the hinder parts, that their action consists ehielly 

 in a forward propulsion, but with very slight impulsion of 

 the body in an upward direction. This agrees with the theory 

 somewhat generally admitted, by which the fore legs woidd 

 have little to do in the normal pace except to support alter- 

 nately the fore part of the body, while to the hiinl limbs 

 would belong the propulsive action and the tractive force 

 developed by the animal. 



The piste of the walking pace, according to Vincent and 

 (ioilfon, is analogous with that of the trot, except that it pre- 

 sents a shorter interval between the successive footprints on 

 the same side. 



Fio. 52. riste of the walking pace, after Vincent and Goiffon. 



In the ordinary walk, this distance would be equal t> the 

 height of the horse, measured at the withers. As in the trot, 

 the prints are covered at each pace; those of the right foot 

 alternate perfectly with those of the left. This character of 

 the jnntc. of the walking pace is, however, observed only under 



Fio /;.'!. Pi.sto of flic ainlilr. after Vincent and (ioiffon : it differ* from that 

 cif tlio walking )> nv. only liy tin. 1 7n ni sii] in im-itnm of tlic footjiri'its on 

 tin 1 Mum- Mile. Tin' liiii't fimt is placed on tbo groun.l beyond i ho im- 

 :iin t tlio fo.u foot. 



certain conditions of speed, and on level ground. On rising 

 ground the prints of the hind-feet are usually behind those of 

 the fore -feet ; in a de-cent, on the contrary, they may possibly 

 pa;-s bevond them, vhicli would give the jtistc of the walk 

 some itv-rml, lance to that of the amble. 



