i66 SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



inclination of the shoulder-blade or scapula to the 

 upper arm-bone, or humerus, or with respect to 

 the relative position occupied by the latter bone 

 in the living animal, unless casts of the relative 

 positions of these bones were taken on the carcass. 

 The relative position of the humerus in Persimmon 

 can, of course, be more nearly described than in 

 the case of Eclipse, though the wonderful measured 

 drawing from which Stubbs did all his pictures 

 must be a remarkably faithful likeness of the older 

 stallion. In the matter of height, it is again un- 

 doubted in the more modern animal, and has prob- 

 ably been faithfully preserved in the setting up 

 of the skeleton ; but in Eclipse there are elements 

 of uncertainty. His height, when alive, is nowhere 

 accurately stated, and as his feet were foundered 

 before death, we probably have his skeleton look- 

 ing lower than it was in life. In spite of this, it 

 is certain that he must have been at least a hand 

 less tall than Persimmon, and in view of this it 

 is sio-nificant that the relative sizes of their limbs 

 show far less difference than might have been 

 expected. Persimmon's skeleton stands a trifle 

 over sixteen hands high. Eclipse's is an inch 

 over fifteen hands. 



" With the reservations already explained, the 

 following measurements may prove interesting : — 



