SHETLAND PONY "HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN" MOUNTED IN THE 



GEAZING POSITION 

 This skeleton was presented by William C. Whitney in June, 1902. 



This special study shows the position of the limbs of a horse in the 

 action of grazing. It will be seen that the downward reach of the head 

 and the slow, lax step, modify the position of almost every bone in the 

 body. The vertebral column is considerably arched in the dorsal 

 region, thus assisting in the downward curve of the neck and at the 

 same time tilting the angle of the pelvis a few degrees toward the per- 

 pendicular, increasing the length of the hind limbs and tilting the body 

 toward the head. The head being turned well to the right, there is 

 a very slight curve toward the left in the anterior portion of the dorsal 

 vertebrae, and a slight curve to the right in the lumbar vertebrae owing 

 to the backward position of the right hind foot. The weight of the body 

 falls on the right front and the left hind foot, bringing them both very 

 near the median line, and also modifying the position of the scapula 

 and elevating the left side of the pelvis. A little below the knee a very 

 small, hair-like bone may be seen, which represents the shaft of the 



almost extinct fibula. 



[IS | 



