364 NATURE'S TEACHINGS. 



from the foot, and examined upon the interior, it will be see 

 that each of the apparent scratches signifies the edge of a ver 

 thin plate of horn, not so thick as the paper on which thi 

 book is printed. The hoof, in fact, is built up of multitudinou 

 plates of horn, set side by side, and each acting as a separat 

 spring. It is this beautiful structure which allows the hors 

 to tread without a jar being sent through its whole system b 

 every step which it takes. 



A similar structure is to be found in all hoofed quadruped* 

 and is especially noticeable in the case of the Elephant. A] 

 those who have watched the walk of an Elephant, no matte 

 what its size may be, must have been struck with the curiou 

 noiselessness of its movements. Its weight may be measure^ 

 by tons, and yet the enormous animal steps as noiselessly as 

 cat. On examining one of the hoofs, after it is removed fror 



HORSE-HOOP. CABRIAOE SPRING. 



the foot, the cause of this marvellously silent tread is perfect! 1 

 evident. The whole of the hoof is composed of nearly paralle 

 horny plates, and by their united action they produce th 

 required result. 



Each plate in itself is very feeble, but, when united as the; 

 are at the ends, they afford mutual support to each other 

 Similarly the separate feathers in a couch would be crushed ty 

 a comparatively slight weight, but when a number are con 

 fined together they support each other, and form the soft 

 yielding couch with which we are so familiar. Horsehair 

 when used as the 'stuffing for a couch or chair, acts in th< 

 same way, and so do the fine filaments of wool when us.ec 

 under the name of " flock." 



