1882.] on Animals in Motion. 55 



a brief space of time the diagonals are upon the ground together. 

 The left fore leg, however, immediately assumes the entire respon- 

 sibility of the weight, and soon attains a vertical position, with its 

 pastern at right angles to it. 



In this position the right hind foot is thrust back to its fullest 

 extent, at an elevation of 12 or 14 inches, with the pastern nearly 

 horizontal. The left hind foot is considerably higher and somewhat 

 more forward ; the right fore leg is straight, stretched forward, with the 

 foot about 15 inches from the ground, and almost on a perpendicular 

 line from the nose. The right fore foot strikes the gi-ound 48 inches 

 in advance of the left fore, which, having nearly performed its office, 

 is preparing to leave the ground ; the animal will then be sup- 

 ported on the right fore foot alone, which immediately falls well to 

 the rear of the centre of gravity, which is sometimes passed by the 

 left hind foot at a height of about 12 inches ; the right hind foot is 

 some distance in the rear, and the left fore foot, at a height of 24 inches, 

 is suspended somewhat in advance of its lateral. 



In this position the horse uses the right fore foot for a final act 

 of propulsion, and is carried in mid air for a distance of 60 inches, 

 after which the left hind foot descends, the stride is completed, and 

 the consecutive motions renewed. 



The measurements and positions herein given do not pretend to 

 exactness, as they must depend to some extent upon the capability, 

 training, and convenience of the animal ; but they may be accepted 

 as representing an average stride of 20 feet with a horse in a fair con- 

 dition for racing. 



From this analysis it will be seen, by reference to stride 9, that 

 a horse, during an ordinary gallop, is supported consecutively by : 



1. The left hind foot, 



2. Both hind feet, 



3. The right hind foot, 



4. The right hind and left fore feet, 



5. The left fore foot, 



6. Both fore feet, 



7. The right fore foot, 



with which he leaves the ground, while the only position in which we 

 find him entii'ely without support is when all the legs are flexed 

 under his body. 



It is highly probable, however, that more exhaustive experi- 

 ments with long-striding horses in perfect training, will discover 

 there is sometimes an interval of suspension between the lifting of 

 one fore foot and the descent of the other ; and also between the 

 lifting of the second hind foot which touches the ground, and the 

 descent of its diagonal fore foot (see imaginary stride 10). Should 

 this latter be the case, it will, from the necessary positions of the 

 other limbs, afford but a very shadowy pretext for the conventional 

 attitude used by artists to represent a gallop. It is extremely 

 doubtful if there can be any interval of suspension between the 



