134 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Under these curves is placed the notation which represents the press- 

 ure of the left diagonal biped. The second impact is given by the 

 feet AD andP G (right diagonal biped), and so on through the whole 

 length of the tracing. Thus the free trot is a pace in which all the 

 four feet give but two strokes, and in which the ground is struck in 

 turn by the two diagonal bipeds ; it is also a high pace, the animal 

 being raised for a brief interval between two successive strokes above 

 the ground. The duration of this suspension, according to Fig. 5, is 

 equal to half the time the feet are pressiug on the ground. But the 



Fig. 6. Notation op the Irregular Tbot. 



trot varies greatly in different horses in this particular, there being 

 oftentimes a very slight period of suspension, although a perfect syn- 

 chronism of the diagonal strokes of the feet is observed. 



By comparing the lines illustrating the reactions with the tracings 

 afforded by the movements of the limbs, it will be seen that the mo- 



jjijq 7. Horse trotting with a Low Kind of Pace. The instant corresponding with the 

 attitude represented in this figure is marked with a white dot on the notation. 



ment when the body of the animal is at the lowest part of its vertical 

 oscillation coincides precisely with that at which its feet touch the 

 ground. The time of suspension does not depend on the fact that the 



