118 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
The back bone is sightly arched to help draw together the fore and 
hind limbs and feet, and thus lengthen the stride and bring the back 
muscles into play. When viewed from above, the back bone is also 
observed to be curved a little to the right, owing to the forward position 
of the left side of the peivis and of the left hind limb; this aiso lengthens 
and gives power to the stride as the back bone is straightened. 
The American Museum has made a specialty of the study of the 
evolution of the Horse, as one of the most striking and best known 
examples of evolution, and the present exhibit two phases of it: First, 
the Evolution of the Horse in Nature, showing how and why the horse 
came into existence; Second, the Evolution of the Horse under Domes- 
tication, showing the different races which have been evolved by man 
through selection and breeding. 
The first phase is illustrated by the series of fossil ancestors of the 
horse in successive geological epochs. ‘These are represented by com- 
plete skeletons of nine stages in the ancestry of the Horse, and numerous. 
skulls and parts of skeletons showing every intermediate gradation from 
the earliest ancestor, no larger than a terrier dog, to the modern descend- 
ants. ‘These are chiefly from the “‘badlands” of the arid Western 
States, where the most complete and abundant remains of fossil horses 
have been found. ‘The specimens on exhibition in the Museum are 
arranged to show the gradual development of the peculiar characteris- 
tics which distinguish the horse from other animals, and especially the 
adaptations to swift running over the open plains which are the natural 
habitat of the animal. With each skeleton is placed a restoration show- 
ing the probable appearance and natural surroundings of the animal 
during life. The exhibit is further illustrated by models, diagrams and 
special series showing the evolution of certain parts of the skeleton. 
The restorations of extinct horses have been made by the weil known 
animal painter, Mr. Charies R. Knight, under the supervision of Professor 
Osborn. All the modern species of wild horse are also represented by 
careful paintings from life by Mr. Knight. 
The second phase, the evolution of the horse under domestication, is 
illustrated by a number of skeletons of different races of the horse, 
mounted with especial care and accuracy in correct and characteristic 
positions. ‘lhe smailest race is the Shetland pony, the largest the great 
Percheron draught horse. ‘The true Arabian horse is represented, and 
the latest addition to the series is the racer Sysonby. One of the most 
