EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FORM 399 



The pelvis is a single bone in the adult animal, although it 

 consists of two halves, each including three bones (ilium, pubis, 

 and ischiuni). Each half carries a socket for the head of its 

 corresponding thigh bones. " The point of the hip or haunch 

 on each side is the front and outer corner of the pelvis. Its 

 two inner corners are firmly connected with the sacrum, upon 

 which they rest. They form the highest point of the bony 

 framework of the croup." The posterior points of the pelvis 

 underlie the points of the buttock. For speed, the pelvis 

 requires to be narrow when viewed from behind, and for 

 strength and slow work, broad and massive. In a weight- 

 carrying hunter it should assume an intermediate form. 

 A drooping rump, although not to such an extent as a 

 " goose-rump," is not objected to by many in the hunting- 

 field, as the animal is better able to get his hind legs under 

 him in preparing to jump, and " high-class chasers generally 

 have the pelvis fairly sloped." The droop in the hind 

 quarters of the heavy farm and dray horse, correlated with 

 the low-set tail and comparatively short hind limbs, adds to 

 his effectiveness at work by " tending to render the line of 

 bones through which propulsion takes place straighten" The 

 relative positions of the other bones of the hind limbs are 

 indicated on page 397, and each hind limb should be 

 set on straight, looked at from behind, and so constructed 

 that when the section between the hock and fetlock joint 

 is in a perpendicular position, it should be in line with the 

 point of the buttock. To secure this, the os calcis must 

 be well developed. " The longer the os calcis, the greater 

 will be the mechanical advantage at which the muscles 

 of the gaskin will act in kicking or in propelling the 

 body forward," the length giving increased leverage in the 

 hind limb. Moreover, it gives a cleaner appearance to the 

 hock, and removes a tendency to thoroughpin. It is less 

 objectionable to have a horse's hocks turned in than out, as 

 it enables him to clear the belly with the stifles when galloping. 

 The face consists of the forehead above the lower corners 

 of the eyes to the root of \hzforelock and the nose, or the 

 continuation of the forehead to the nostrils. The muzzle is 

 the lower end of the head. The bars of the mouth lie 

 between the molar teeth and tushes of the lower jaw. The 

 chin groove is the depression outside above the under lip. 



