i68 SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



being no less than 4 in., whereas in Eclipse 

 it is only 2J in., and in Stockwell 2 in. A 

 long- femur is a valuable feature in connection 

 with speed, enabling a horse to tuck his legs 

 well under and increase his stride. The cases 

 of Eclipse and, more especially, of Stockwell 

 indicate, however, that it is not an absolutely es- 

 sential feature in connection with speed. Possibly, 

 in the case of Eclipse the shorter distance of the 

 middle of the knee from the oround, which is 

 believed to be indicative of greater speed as com- 

 pared with Persimmon, may have compensated for 

 the shortness of the femur. In Stockwell the 

 distance from the knee to the ground is nearly as 

 great as in Persimmon, but this may be largely 

 due to the articulator. 



" As regards the number of ribs and the com- 

 parative shortness of the ribless interval, very 

 little difference is apparent between Persimmon 

 and Eclipse : and much the same seems to be 

 the case, so far as can be judged by comparison 

 of the photograph of the latter, with regard to 

 the relative breadth of barrel. Touchstone's 

 skeleton shows an extra rib, but whether it con- 

 tributed to his pace or not, I cannot say. He 

 certainly threw his legs very wide behind when 

 galloping, and it will be remembered that a grey- 

 hound's hind legs considerably overlap his fore 



