142 The Scottish Naturalist. 



(1) " In 1 806, during the campaign of Austerlitz, a Piedmontese 

 officer possessed a beautiful, and in other respects, a most service- 

 able, mare,but which one peculiarity rendered at times exceedingly 

 dangerous for the saddle. She had a decided aversion to paper, 

 which she immediately recognised the moment she saw it, and 

 even in the dark if one or two leaves were rubbed together. 

 The effect produced by the sight or sound of it was so prompt 

 and so violent, that in many cases she unhorsed her rider ; and 

 in one case, his foot being entangled in the stirrup, she dragged 

 him a considerable way over a stony road. In other respects, 

 this mare had not the slightest fear of objects that would 

 terrify most horses. She regarded not the music of the band, 

 the whistling of the balls, the roaring of the cannon, the fire of 

 the bivouacs, or the glittering of the arms. The confusion and 

 noise of an engagement made no impression upon her ; the 

 sight of no other white object affected her; no other sound was 

 regarded ; the view or the rustling of paper alone roused her to 

 madness. All possible means were employed to cure her of 

 this extraordinary and dangerous aberration, but without suc- 

 cess ; and her master was at length compelled to sell her, for 

 his life was in continual danger. 



(2) "A mare belonged to the Guard-Royal from 18 16 to 

 1 82 1. She was perfectly manageable, and betrayed no anti- 

 pathy to the human being, nor to other animals, nor to horses, 

 except they were of a light-grey colour : but the moment she 

 saw a grey horse she rushed upon it, and attacked it with the 

 greatest fury. It was the same at all times and everywhere. 

 She was all that could be wished on the parade, on the route, 

 in the ranks, in action, and in the stable ; but such was her 

 hatred towards white or grey horses, that it was dangerous to 

 place them in the same stable with her, at whatever distance. 

 If she once caught a glimpse of one, whether horse or mare, 

 she rested not until she had thrown her rider, or broken her 

 halter, and then she rushed on it with the greatest fury, and bit 

 it in a thousand places. She generally, however, seized the 

 animal by the head or by the throat, and held it so fast that she 

 would suffocate it if it were not promptly released from her 

 bite. As she grew old (for she was eighteen years old in 1821), 

 this mania was not quite removed, but was somewhat weakened. 

 No other body of white colour appeared to make the least im- 

 pression on her. 



(3) " A mare, belonging to the fifth squadron of Hussars,. 



