4O4 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



situated still higher above the ocean, and consisting 

 of a deposit of alluvial soil, resting on granite, are 

 naturally dry, and by means of their heat attract 

 moisture from the horse. On the other hand, the 

 aromatic vegetation, which is there strong and succu- 

 lent, drives from him those humours, the exudation of 

 which is favoured by the imperceptible, but continual, 

 perspiration incidental to a warm climate. The con- 

 sequence is, that the horses of those and other 

 countries with similar pasturage, are completely free 

 from the strangles and other glandular diseases, which 

 are so frequent and fatal to those of Europe. 



The pure Arabian is considerably smaller than 

 our racehorse, seldom exceeding fourteen hands two 

 inches in height. His head is very beautiful, clean, 

 and wide between the jaws ; the forehead broad and 

 square ; the face flat ; the muzzle short and fine ; the 

 nostrils large and open ; the eyes prominent and 

 brilliant ; the ears small and handsome ; the skin of 

 the head thin, through which may be distinctly traced 

 the whole of the veins ; the neck rather short than 

 otherwise. The body, as a whole, may be considered 

 too light, and the breast rather narrow ; but behind 

 the fore-legs, the chest generally swells out greatly, 

 and with much depth of ribs, leaving ample room for 

 the lungs to play ; the shoulder is superior to that of 

 any other breed ; the scapula, or shoulder-blade, in- 

 clines backward, nearly at an angle of forty-five 

 degrees ; the withers are high and arched ; the neck 

 beautifully curved ; the mane and tail long, thin, and 

 flowing ; the legs fine, flat, and wiry, with the flanks 

 placed somewhat oblique, which has led some to 

 suppose that their strength was thereby diminished ; 

 but this is by no means the case : the bone is of 

 uncommon density, and the prominent muscles of the 



