MOISTURE. 



399 



Atmospheric Moisture. — ^The atmosphere of all 

 countries contains more or less moisture, the amount of 

 which varies according to the temperature of the air, 

 and according to the proximity of water, such as that 

 contained in lakes, rivers, marshes and the sea. Thus, 

 the atmosphere of Singapore is almost saturated with 

 moisture, and that of dry inland districts of the Arctic 

 Circle contain a minimum quantity. Evaporation of 



Fig- 439-— Battak pony, Ruby. 



perspiration plays a very large part in keeping the horse's 

 body cool during hot weather, and its rapidity varies 

 in inverse proportion to the amount of moisture which 

 is in the atmosphere. Hence, its cooling and health- 

 preserving influence is more or less nullified in climates 

 which are hot and moist. Thus we find that in the 

 moist and warm climate of Egypt, horse-breeding is 

 such a failure, that horses have to be largely imported, 

 chiefly from Syria. From practical experience and from 



