PACHYDERMATA. 181 



jnales, forcibly expelled as soon as they have reached the age of 

 puberty, follow the troop at a distance, until they are joined by 

 some of the younger mares. 



The domestic colt sucks six or seven months, and the sexes 

 are separated at two years ; at three they are handled, and at 

 four broken to the saddle, &c. at which time also they can 

 propagate without injury to themselves. The period of gesta- 

 tion is eleven months. 



A Horse's age is known by the incisors. The milk teeth 

 begin to grow about fifteen days after the colt is foaled 5 at two 

 years and a half the middle ones are replaced ; at three and a 

 half the two following ones ; at four and a half the outermost or 

 the corners. All these teeth, with an originally indented crown, 

 gradually lose that mark by detrition. When seven or eight 

 years old they are entirely effaced, and the Horse is no longer 

 marked. 



The lower canini are produced at three years and a half, the 

 upper ones at four ; they remain pointed till six ; at ten they be- 

 gin to peel off. 



The life of the Horse seldom extends beyond thirty years. 



Every one knows how much this animal varies in size and 

 colour. The principal races even exhibit sensible differences 

 in the form of the head, in their proportion, and in their fitness 

 for the various uses to which they are applied. 



The most beautiful and swift is the Arab, which has been 

 instrumental in improving the Spanish race, and along with the 

 latter has contributed to form the English ; the largest and 

 strongest are from the coasts of the North sea"; the smallest 

 from the north of Sweden and Corsica. Wild Horses have a 

 large head, frizzled hair, and ungraceful proportions. 



E. hemionus, Pall., Schreb. (The Dzigguetai.) A species 

 which, as to its proportions, is intermediate between the Horse- 

 and the Ass, and lives in troops in the sandy deserts of central 

 Asia. It is of an Isabella or light bay colour, with a black 

 iTiane, and a dorsal line of the same colour ; the tail is termi- 

 nated by a black tuft. It is probably the Wild Mule of the an- 

 cients. 



E. asinus, L. ; Buff. IV, xi. (The Ass.) Known by its long- 

 ears, the tuft which terminates the tail, and the black cross on 

 the shoulders, which is the first indication of the stripes which 

 distinguish the following species. Originally from the great 

 deserts of central Asia, it is still to be found there in a wild 

 state, and in innumerable troops, ranging from north to south 

 according to the season j hence it thrives but poorly in the 

 more northern climates. Its patience, sobriety, robust tem- 



