18 EEV. GEOEGB PATTEESON 



wliifli he had newlj' built, in the hope of her reaching the mainland or being picked up bj 

 some vessel, but after cruising thirteen days with various winds she returned to the island. 

 "Wild fowl had been scarce. He proposes as soon as possible making a trial for fish, but if 

 unsuccessful he will try one of the horses, which he thinks will make gooil venison. 



These horses were the only animals found on the island, if we except the rats and mice, 

 which at one time became very troublesome. When they were placed there is uncertain. 

 Dr. Gilpin supposes that they are the progeny of animals placed upon the island by the Rev. 

 Mr. Le Mercier, and that they are of the ordinary New England stock. AVriting about 

 1864, he estimates them at 400 in number. "When Haliburton wrote about 1828, they were 

 reckoned at 300, and in recent times they have been variously estimated at from 150 to 250. 

 Indeed, from different causée, sandstorms destroying pasturage, severe winters, or destruction 

 and capture by residents, their number has been reduced at various times. As the doctor 

 has given a full description of them we shall give the substance of what he has written. 



He describes them as from twelve to fourteen hands high, seldom reaching the last 

 figure, head large and ill set on, with usually the round Roman nose and thick jowl ; the 

 ear small, short and square at the top, crest very thick and heavy in the male, neck cock 

 thrappled or swelling out in front, withers very low, quarters short and sloping, legs very 

 strong and robust, with thick upright pasterns, the eye not large or bright, the mouth very 

 short, the forelock and mane abundant, reaching nearly to the ground and covering the 

 nostrils. The weight of the mane often pulls the crest over so that especially in the mares, 

 the neck becomes cave necked, the foretoe usually turned outward or paddle footed, and the 

 withers seemingly lower than the rump or quarters, although they are exceedingly short and 

 sloping. The coat is during winter long and shaggy, especially under the chin and on the 

 legs. 



In colour the bays are the most numerous, including the brown with them, next are the 

 chestnuts. The blacks are few and there are no grays, but a number of a bluish mouse colour. 

 Altogether in appearance and habits they resemble the wild horses of Tartary. 



They were divided into about six herds or gangs, each gang headed by an old male, 

 who was conspicuous by his masses of mane and tail. Each herd had its separate feeding- 

 ground, to which the individuals belonging to the gang seemed equally attached as to their 

 leader. On driving over the island and mixing them promiscuously, by the next morning 

 they had returned to their separate feeding-grounds, some of them travelling ten or twelve 

 miles during the night for the purpose. On approaching them, the leader would leave his 

 family, and, advancing toward the intruder, assume a defiant attitude, as if prepared to 

 fight if any interference with those under his charge should be attempted. On being further 

 pressed, however, he might be seen to drive outlying parties of mares and young horses into 

 the main herd, who would begin a general retreat at a slow trot, he keeping in the rear. If 

 pressed still farther by persons on horseback, he would join the herd, now in a gallop, but 

 still always keeping in the rear, the idea of leadership being thus unmistakable. 



"The gang," says the doctor, " consists of mares, colts and young horses. "When the 

 latter attain their full growth, the leader generally turns them out. These then wander 

 about the island, until they manage to steal a few mares away from some of the others and 

 form new gangs for themselves. On these occasions severe fighting ensues between the 

 leader and the intruder, the conflict not infrequently lasting for hours, each biting and tear- 

 ing the other till one is overpowered. If the intruder beats the leader of the gang, he takes 

 his place and appropriates to himself the mares or as many as he wants. It sometimes hap- 



