622 ASIATIC AND NORTH AFRICAN HORSES. 



was done in 19 hours and 55 minutes, the gallant grey 

 was as ready as ever for his corn." The Arab is a delight- 

 ful hack, as he is singularly free from timidity, impetuosity, 

 fidgetiness, jibbing, and other vices which make riding and 

 driving a distasteful labour. The admirable mental 

 qualities which adorn the Son of the Desert, are evidently 

 the outcome of the careful selection which his breeders 

 have practised for many ages on their equine companions. 



The principal colours of the true Arab are bay, brown, 

 chestnut, nutmeg grey and flea-bitten grey. I am inclined 

 to think that more flea-bitten grey Arabs were imported 

 into India during the early sixties, when I first had the 

 pleasure of making the acquaintance of Arabian horses, 

 than at present. Among pure bred Arabs, black is a 

 very rare colour, and dun is practically unknown. A 

 dark mane and tail in a chestnut Arab, is an undoubted 

 sign of blood. I believe that a light mane and tail is 

 seldom if ever seen in a Kuhailan. A perusal of Indian 

 racing records will show that a large majority of Arabs 

 are bay, brown, and chestnut. The idea that grey is the 

 characteristic Arab colour (p. 326), is a wide-spread 

 fallacy, especially on the Continent. 



The term " Gulf Arab " is apphed in India to Shirazi 

 horses (p. 609) which have been imported as Arabs. 



The most characteristic physical point about the true 

 Arab is the pecuhar and beautiful way he carries his tail, 

 which, when walking, he always (as far as I have seen) 

 holds to one particular side (either to the off or near) 

 and well elevated, as in Fig. 593, and he does not, 

 like the English thorough-bred, swing it from side to 

 side, while walking. Many Arabs, when galloping, 

 hold the dock (the solid portion of the tail) in a 

 more or less vertical position. The Arab's tail is set-on 

 very high, and its muscles are particularly well developed. 

 The hair of the mane and tail is never coarse. He has a 

 handsome and inteUigent head, with broad forehead, large 

 " kind " eyes, straight or concave line of face, large nostrils. 



