THIGH AND STIFLE. 311 



opposite direction. If we examine Figs. 301 and 310, 

 we shall see that, under natural conditions, a zebra 

 stands with his hind legs much more '^ under " him, than 

 a horse does ; the chief reason evidently being that his 

 pelvis is more upright. Also, if we inspect both ends of 

 a zebra, we cannot fail to see that he is relatively broad 

 behind and narrow in front, and that he has powerful 

 loin muscles. Hence, his conformation is admirably suited 

 to the performance of his defensive rotatory movement. 



From a galloping point of view, a drooping pelvis is 

 a serious defect ; for its existence implies that the back- 

 ward sweep of the hind leg is proportionately curtailed, and 

 consequently the compass of the stride is more or less 

 cramped. Also, on account of the point of the buttock 

 being depressed, the muscles (the ischio tibial) which are 

 attached to it and to the head of the tibia, and which aid 

 in the extension of the hip-joint, will be unduly shortened 

 in length. To have the point of the buttock placed high 

 and projecting well to the rear is a great beauty, which may 

 be seen in some thorough-breds and in high-caste Arabs. 

 This kind of conformation is well marked in the hare, in 

 which animal the pelvis is more or less horizontally placed ; 

 and the part of it (the ischium) that is behind the cavity 

 in which the head of the hip-bone works, is much longer 

 in proportion to the remainder of the pelvis, than it is in 

 the horse. 



The prominence which some horses show in the middle 

 of the croup (Fig. 279), is due to the large development 

 of the inner angle {posterior iliac spine, Fig. 18) of the pelvis 

 (at each side), and points to the presence, in the part, of 

 strong muscles. Cloister (Frontispiece) and St. Gatien had 

 this prominence well marked. This peculiarity indicates 

 great length of pelvis, which is a very desirable point in 

 the hunter and chaser, in both of which, as we have already 

 seen (p. 274), a long shoulder-blade is essential. 



Thigh and Stifle. — The muscles of the thigh should 



