276 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



frozen over and buried in snow ; yet they kept in good con- 

 dition for two monttis, scarcely moving, but pawing away 

 the snow until coming to the 2 ft. length of snow-grass {Dan- 

 thonia, sp. '?), on which they fed. They seemingly required no 

 v?ater ; certainly none was procurable during that time. x\nd 

 these horses had been brought from the north, and therefore 

 had no previous knowledge of deep snow and the grass to be 

 found beneath. 



I was lately told by a reliable person of an old and favourite 

 horse who was able to open all the gates, and the remedy 

 found effective in stopping him was hanging bits of tin to the 

 gate. He would stand blinking his eyes and. shaking his head, 

 but was completely checked by this simple device. 



Mares will travel at times long distances to the place 

 where they have received service of the horse, even to going 

 through the centre of a considerable town and remaining 

 pawing and forcing open the stable-door within which was 

 their wished-for mate. 



When I was a small boy in England we had a thorough- 

 bred pony and a donkey kept in the same paddock, and one 

 day I noticed quite a small crowd of persons standing in the 

 roadv»'ay intently looking at something. The pony was carry- 

 ing a large stick in his mouth, and was seemingly striking and 

 poking the donkey to make him gallop around. The explanation 

 of this would probably be found in tlie mischievous habits of 

 the pony ; it would sometimes run away with our jackets 

 when laid on the grass whilst we were engaged in a game at 

 cricket. This pony (Fireaway) was certainly very intelligent, 

 and distinguished himself greatly when following the Eufford 

 foxhounds, being very swift and a remarkable fencer. 



A fierce duel between mares, when carried on with proper 

 science, is very interesting. To present as small a point of 

 danger to themselves as possible, each runs back so as to keep 

 as near the other as possible, and thus prevent a lashing-out 

 kick. To save their hind legs, as it were, they almost sit 

 down on their tails, looking backward with head turned over 

 the shoulder, squealing shrilly all the time, and jumping about 

 in this singular attitude with great activity, and watching to 

 catch the other at a disadvantage. I have only once seen this 

 encounter in a lifetime. 



I once saw two stallions fighting. They upreared them- 

 selves frequently, so as to seem surprisingly tall, actually 

 wrestling, as it were, and biting each other on the crest of the 

 neck and withers. Their stertorous breathing could be heard 

 a long distance off. This fight between Jersey and an old 

 cart-entire came off on a clear moonlight night, and roused 

 me from a sound sleep. I rushed away with a long stock- 

 whip and drove the two, still fightipg madly, notwithstanding 



