BREAST. 



245 



as an argument that roundness of rib is inconsistent 

 with good breathing power. We may account for it more 

 correctly by saying that the failure in " staying " is 

 owing to the undue weight of the fore-hand consequent 

 on the large muscular development of the part, and to 

 the tendency to lateral displacement of the centre of 

 gravity (p. 68). It is well to remember that the muscles 



which, by their large development, give increased width 



Photo by] [M. H. H. 



Fig. 329. — Front view of well-shaped 



weight-carrying Hunter. 



P/iotu bj] [M. H. H. 



Fig. 330. — Broad-breasted thorough- 

 bred mare (Fig. 305). 



between the fore legs, might with propriety be con- 

 sidered in conjunction with those of the shoulders 

 (p. 266), to the bones (shoulder-blade and humerus) 

 of which they are attached at one end. The '' thick- 

 ness of the shoulders " is directly influenced by their 

 development, which is naturally more or less in agreement 

 with that of the other muscles of the shoulder. Thus we 

 rarely see a horse wide in front which is not at the same 



