Teachers' Leaflet. 



501 



i!f'-«*^i'«?-' 



THE^HORSE. 



Preliminary Work. — If any of the pupils have horses that are pets the lessons 

 may hegin with stories of them, otherwise begin by reading stories of interesting 

 performance of horses ; for instance, such a story as " Kaweah's Run," by King 

 in Johonnot's book, " Neighbors with Claws and Hoofs," or read the stories about 

 the wonderful performing horse in Germany " The Wise Hans." After the interest 

 is thoroughly aroused take up the following lessons in informal talks, getting the 

 pupils to make observations day after day on the horses in the street. 



LESSON LXII. 



PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS. 



Purpose. — To call attention to the way the form of the horse is 

 fitted for its needs as a wild animal and for the use of man as a domes- 

 ticated animal. 



The most obvious adaptation of the horse is length of legs as com- 

 pared with body. These long legs enable the horse to run and trot 

 very fast, and thus the wild horse escapes from his special enemies, the 

 wolves ; his speed also has made him of the greatest use to man. It 

 would be very interesting for the pupils to learn the different parts of 

 the horse's legs as compared to our limbs. This shows that the horse 

 walks on the nail of one toe, which is called the hoof, and that the heel 

 is the first joint up the leg that we naturally call the knee. Some study 

 should be made of the hoofs of the horse, showing what a perfect protec- 

 tion this one toenail is. Incidental to this study of the horse's legs the 

 fastest running and trotting time may be given. Another noticeable 

 adaptation is the length of the head and of the neck, which seems 

 necessary to enable an animal with so long legs to reach down and crop 



