460 EGYPTIAN AND AKABIAN HORSES. 



satisfactory results, and should not lead to the rejection of the Donk- 

 olain horse. Moreover, it is hardly to be expected that the best 

 results can be achieved in the first generation, but rather by dint of 

 continual interbreeding. 



At present, as a matter of fact, the Egyptian horse is not a very 

 distinct species; they have been bred so at random that they do not 

 retain any of the characteristic forms or traits which would serve to 

 distinguish them permanently. 



The modern Egyptian horse is below the medium size, but is 

 stocky and well filled out. His head is long, square, and ponderous, 

 his large ears are as a rule awkwardly placed, his eyes are little but 

 expressive, his nose is sloped oif sharply and his nostrils flattened. 

 He has a full chest between a pair of heavy shoulders, A^hich are 

 ordinarilv square rather than rounded. His withers are not very 

 prominent. The rump is deeply cleft, the stomach large, the hams 

 and knees strong, the feet broad, the mane and tail coarse and 

 abundant. 



Not infrequently these horses have their front legs disproportion- 

 ately short; their bodies are not always long enough for symmetry; 

 and the head and hind quarters often reseml)le those of a mule. These 

 faults, however, are traceable to the Syrian type, a breed which has 

 contributed much to the composition of the modern Egyptian. 

 Bright bay, chestnut, and a dirty gray are the colors usually found ; 

 white is not at all common, and, being the color of princes, is very 

 much sought after; black is the rarest of all. 



The Egyptian horse is gentle, docile, and generally quite lively. 

 When excited his veins fill, his nostrils distend, his eyes shine; all 

 his movements are full of fire and vigor, but his strength is soon 

 exhausted. 



The Egyptians show much consideration in the treatment of their 

 steeds, but the way they raise, feed, and pamper them is not calcu- 

 lated to produce a remarkable breed. On account of this care th<^ 

 animals are too short winded to run any great distances. 



The art of horse training is but comparatively little known among 

 the Egyptians. A colt, within a few days after birth, is allowed to 

 follow its mother on all excursions. The rider, however, is careful 

 to stop often, so that the youngster shall not suflFer for nourishment. 

 Sick or well, the colt is weaned at the end of six or seven months, 

 and then they give him very little food until he is 2 years old. 

 Moreover, they take no pains about providing any transition from 

 green food to dry. These habits have most deplorable consequences 

 in underdeveloping and predisposing the animal to all kinds of 

 sickness. 



Like his predecessors in the days of the Pharaohs, the modern 

 Egyptian does not use his horse for agriculture; he regards it as a 



