THE ARAB STOCK 169 



rather widely separated from the pelvis. The chest 

 is deep but narrow, thus affording due space for the 

 lungs without making the fore-limbs too wide apart. 

 The obliquity of the shoulder gives full play to the 

 upper part of the leg ; while the extreme length 

 of the haunch, and the elongated hind-limbs, with 

 their long, sloping pasterns, are essentially adapted 

 for the maximum development of speed. The 

 most common colour is bright bay or brown, with 

 black legs, mane, and tail, although chestnut is not 

 infrequent ; but black and grey (especially at the 

 present time) are less common. 



Although, as stated above, the development of 

 the English thoroughbred did not take place till the 

 seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it is important 

 to mention that Irish hunters, which have long been 

 celebrated, were derived from Barb horses imported 

 into Ireland from Spain several centuries earlier. 



Remarks on the inheritance of coat-colour 

 in thoroughbreds and on a possible connection be- 

 tween colour and speed will be found in the first 

 chapter. 



