itfO THE REASON WHY: 



" Fixed on the goal, his eye fore-run*- *he course, 

 His hand, unerring, steers the steaar horse; 

 And now contra.; s, or now extends the rein, 

 Observing still the foremost on the plain." POPE'S HOMER. 



478. Why do wild horses congregate in flocJcs ? 



Because, as they shift their ground with the change ot seasons 

 in pursuit of new pasturage, the same necessity operating upon 

 large numbers at once, they become gregarious, and acquire habits 

 of association. 



479. Why are the colourings and markings of horses so varied ? 



Numerous conjectures have been entertained as to what was the 

 original colour of the horse, and what have been the causes of the 

 varieties that have since appeared, but the inquiry has not been 

 attended with success. 



480. The various colours of horses would seem to be truly original and inherent ; 

 for such of them as have, from a state of domestication, been suffered again to run 

 wild, have retained the colour they carried with them, although their form has 

 altered by being submitted to the agencies of climate. Neither have the original 

 horses of different countries, according to the accounts of travellers, exhibited in 

 this particular any individual characteristic. The horses of the east are not darker 

 than those of the north ; on the contrary, we have white Arabians ; and we procure 

 the darkest breeds from the north of Europe, while in Russia, bright bay is as 

 common a colour as any other. Geographical distribution is not, however, wholly 

 without its influence on the hair ; for our heavy breeds, drawn from the northern 

 parts of Europe, are very frequently black ; but a full-blood black horse is very 

 seldom met with. Age has likewise a powerful effect on the tinting of the 

 hair ; that of the colt alters many shades ; in some cases it becomes much lighter, 

 and in others altogether much darker as the adult period arrives. But the 

 alteration which takes place between the time if full growth and that of old age. 

 is invariably from a darker to a lighter hue. 



481. Why, when two horses are in a pasture, do we frequently see 

 we of them nibbling the shoulder- or neck of the other? 



This action is performed for the purpose of extricating the 

 irritating fly known as the bot, which commonly attacks horses 

 in the parts mentioned. There cannot be a doubC that the animals 

 indicate the presence of this annoyance to each other, for when one 

 horse has had the fly removed from him, he will immediately render 

 the same service to his companion. 



