26 THE HORSE. 
per cent., and this only ensures the landing of the animal alive ; for if it 
is so wasted and worn as to die an hour afterwards, the policy is of no 
value to the insured. Williamson, in his Wild Sports of the East, describes 
the native Bengal breeds in the following terms :—“ They have generally 
Roman noses and sharp narrow foreheads, much white in their eyes, ill- 
shaped ears, square heads, thin necks, narrow chests, shallow girths, lank 
bellies, cat hams, goose rumps, and switch tails! Some occasionally may 
be found in every respect well shaped. They are hardy and fleet, but in- 
capable of carrying great weights. Their vice is proverbial ; yet until they 
arrive at four or five years they are often very docile and gentle; after 
that period they, for the most part, are given to rearing, kicking, biting, 
and a thousand equally disagreeable habits.” Other writers have defined 
the several breeds found throughout the southern parts of India, and 
named them also, as Zoorky, Cozakee, Tazsee, &c. ; but I understand from 
good authority that there are really no such breeds in existence now, and 
probably they were only called into. being by the active imaginations of 
inventive writers. Large breeding studs were kept-by some of the native 
princes, but these were mainly dependent upon‘imported Arabs and 
Persians, and could claim no peculiar strain as their own. The same 
mixture of blood prevails in.the present day, with the exception of the 
horses in the northern provinces. 
Tue Brruan Horse is very small, being seldom higher than thirteen 
hands, and it is said that some specimens are less than eleven. The same 
cemark applies also to those of Cuina, Sram, and Java. 
THE AUSTRALIAN HORSE. 
Tue IRISHMAN’S FIFTH QUARTER OF THE WORLD is now abundantly sup- 
plied with horses of the first class, in size, speed, and stoutness, though 
little more than half a century ago the animal was altogether unknown 
there. At first, from the proximity of India and the Cape of Good Hope, 
the horses of these colonies, and those of inferior value only, were 
imported into the new settlement ; but about the year 1835 great efforts 
were made by several enterprising settlers, both in the Island of Van 
Diemen and also on the continent of Australia, and several horses of 
good breeding were imported from this country, especially by Mr. Wil- 
more in the former island. It was soon found that the climate is 
admirably suited to this animal, and there are now colonial-bred horses, 
adapted for the turf and the road,‘as well as for agricultural purposes, 
superior in soundness and probably in stoutness, even if they are defi- 
cient in face, as compared with the British thoroughbred. As far as 
I know, no Australian horse has been imported into England, so that 
we have no means of comparing the two on terms advantageous to the 
mother country ; nor possibly can we altogether depend upon the glowing 
accounts which are furnished us of the appearance and performances of 
our Antipodean rivals. Still I am inclined to believe that as the soil and 
climate are admitted to improve the appearance of the imported horses, 
as indeed they do all our domestic animals, and as disease of all kinds is 
extremely rare, so it will be found that in all good qualities the Australian 
horse is at least on a par with our own. ‘Their breeders are so spirited 
and determined that neither money nor trouble is spared in procuring 
the best blood, an evidence of which is afforded by the fact that at the 
recent sale of Lord Londesborough’s stud, the large sum of 3,120 guineas 
was invested for Australia. This, probably, is the heaviest price yet paid at 
