1793> wild horses in Siberia, 99 
These reflection: are occasioned by a communicati- 
on of a correspondent from the province of in the 
southern parts of Siberia. He saysthereis nothing . 
in that province which he thinks will be so acceptable 
to the people of Britain as the history of the wild 
horse, a noble animal that is found in the extensive 
plains of Southern Siberia, in considerable numbers. 
He warns me that m~ readers may suspect he ex- 
aggerates here: but he afsures me he does not ; and 
says if he does he can be corrected by some persons 
now living in Britain, who know the facts as well as 
him. 
The wild horse, he says, though a gregarious animal, 
does not go in promiscuous flocks like cattle or fheep; 
but each male chooses for himself a certain number 
of females, with whom alone he afsociates during the 
whole year, beating off every other male which of. 
fers to approach them. The strongest of course has 
the best haram ; and the weaker are obliged to go 
without any : But when he has once fixed himself, 
he defends his own property, never attempting to 
incroach on that of another. The battles that are 
fought for the females at the beginning of the sea- - 
son ate furious, and often prove fatal to one of 
the parties; but when the victory is once decided, 
the weakest never afterwards that season disputes 
for superiority. 
The horse, when he has once obtained his females, 
governs them with despoti¢ authority. Whenever he 
calls upon them they must obey, otherways they 
are ‘punilhed severely; and the mares are so sensible, 
