250 THE TRUNK. 



assuming, to some extent, the form of an arch, is generally 

 supposed to be advantageous for carrying heavy burdens, 

 as in the case of pack animals, although there does not 

 appear to be any actual proof that such is the case. A 

 " hollow-backed " or " saddle-backed " horse, on the 

 contrary, is one which has this line concave, on account 

 of the arrangement of the vertebrae of the part. It is 

 frequently the result of relaxation of the ligaments which 

 bind the vertebrae together, owing to the effects of hard 

 work and debility. Thus, we may often see a horse, which 

 in his youth had a straight back, become hollow-backed 

 in his old age (Fig. 334). From the different position 

 assumed by man when moving, the opposite to this occurs 

 in ourselves. An appearance of hollow-back (Fig. 305) 

 may be given by unusually large development of that part 

 {posterior iliac spine, Fig. 18) of the pelvis which forms 

 the highest point of the croup. I have also observed — 

 especially among Arab ponies — the same kind of con- 

 formation arise from the pelvis being set up particularly 

 high in animals which were low^ in front. No fault can be 

 found with an apparently hollow back produced by the 

 large development of the pelvis. 



Without any exception, the loins and back, at the region 

 of the cantle of the saddle, should be as flat and broad as 

 possible ; for this condition indicates the presence of 

 powerful rearing muscles (p. 67), and rotundity of the back 

 ribs. In many draught animals, the upper muscles of 

 the loins and back stand out as distinct ridges of muscle 

 on each side of the backbone (Fig. 335). This beauty in 

 the coarser breeds is not confined to them, but may 

 sometimes be seen in well-bred horses, as was the case 

 with Mr. Kelly Maitland's Kingcraft, w^hich was one of 

 the best race-horses that has ever been in India. This 

 Australian was a singularly muscular, short-backed animal, 

 to whom distance and weight made, comparatively, but 

 little difference. This " double-backed " condition may 

 come on or disappear according to the amount of "flesh" 



