THE SHETLAND PONY. 441 



Estremadura and Granada; and particularly of Andalusia, are most 

 valued. Berenger, whose judgment can be fully depended on, thus 

 enumerates their exxellences and their defects : " The neck is lono: and 

 arched, perhaps somewhat thick, but clothed with a full and flowing- 

 mane ; the head may be a little too coarse ; the ears long, but well- 

 placed , the eyes large, bold, and full of fire. Their carriage lofty, proud, 

 and noble. The breast large ; the shoii' lers sometimes thick ; the belly 

 frequently too full, and swelling, and ■; • e loin a little too low ; but the 

 ribs round, and the croup round and ful!, and the legs well formed and 

 clear of hair, and the sinews at a distance from the bone — active and 

 ready in their paces — of quick apprehension ; a memory singularly 

 faithful; obedient to the utmost proof ; docile and affectionate to man, 

 yet full of spirit and courage." 



GALLOWAYS AND PONIES. 



A horse between thirteen and fourteen hands in height is called a 

 Galloway, from a beautiful breed of little horses once found in the south 

 of Scotland, on the shore of the Solway Firth, but now sadly degen- 

 erated, and almost lost, through the attempts of the farmer to obtain a 

 larger kind, and better adapted for the purposes of agriculture. There 

 is a tradition in that country that the breed is of Spanish extraction, 

 some horses having escaped from one of the vessels of the Grand 

 Armada, that was wrecked on the neighboring coast. This district, 

 however, so earl)- as the time of Edward I, supplied that monarch with 

 a great number of horses. 



The pure Galloway was said to be nearly fourteen hands high, and 

 sometimes more ; of a bright bay or brown, with black legs, small head 

 and neck, and peculiarly deep and clean legs. Its qualities were speed, 

 stoutness, and sure-footedness over the very rugged and mountainous 

 country of which it was the native. 



THE SHETLAND PONY. 



The Shetland Pony, or Sheltie (Plate XXXI), an inhabitant of 

 the extremest northern Scottish Isles, is a very diminutive animal — some- 

 times not more than seven hands and a half in height, and rarely exceed- 

 ing nine and a half. He is often exceedingly beautiful, with a small 

 head, good-tempered countenance, a short neck, fine toward the throttle, 

 ^6 



