242 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF MAMMALS 



As an illustration, America ages ago was the home of 

 the horse and its progenitors, the famous " toed " horses, 

 which have been so valuable in expounding and proving 

 the theory of evolution as understood to-day. In time they 

 became extinct and horses disappeared from America, 

 the first in modern times being brought by the Spaniards 



Fig. 208. — a Shetland Pony. 



when they made their discovery of America in the years 

 following 1492 and the landing of Columbus. From these 

 North and South America have been populated with horses. 

 Many have escaped, and wild horses are found on both con- 

 tinents and all over the world. In Africa and Asia wild 

 horses of various kinds have always been known, and from 

 this stock our present trotters, racers, Shetlands, shire 



