ITS CHARACTER. 287 



against the foal's neck ; from whence he inferred, that 

 it was reflection, rather than instinct, that taught her 

 to rub where she was bitten. 



In the extensive moorlands of Staffordshire, the 

 horses stamp upon the gorse furze with their fore feet, 

 in order to break the points of their thorns, which 

 renders it convenient to eat ; whereas, in more fertile 

 parts of the country, horses take no such precaution, 

 from want of experience, as it appears, — but when 

 they attempt to feed on this shrub, prick themselves 

 till their mouths bleed. 



Next to the elephant, I think the horse the most 

 noble, generous, useful creature that man renders sub- 

 servient to his will, — though, perhaps, a Laplander 

 would prefer the rein-deer, or an Arab the camel; 

 but I am not so well acquainted with their disposi- 

 tions, though I acknowledge their usefulness in their 

 respective countries. 



Of all domestic animals, swine are the least pleas- 

 ing ; yet Mr. Craven assures me that M^e are apt to 

 regard them as stupid merely from the forbidding ap- 

 pearance of their exterior form, and their disagreeable 

 habits of wallowing in the mire, and eating any kind 

 of food without discrimination. He says that they 

 have more intellect than is generally supposed ; that 

 nature has bestowed on them a sense of touch, as well 

 as smell, at the end of the nose, which they use as 



