NATURAL HISTORY. 159 



&quot; Necre to the shore that bord red on the rocke, 

 No merry swaine was scene to feed his flocke, 

 No lusty neat-heard thither drove his kine, 

 No boorish hog-heard fed his rooting swine.&quot; BROWNE. 



or tearing, it brings the foot into action, iu order to strengthen 

 the hold, and for this purpose frequently set** its foot in the trough 



473. Why is it said that pigs &quot; cut their throats M when 

 swimming ? 



Because they are bad swimmers ; their fore legs being set closely 

 under them, whenever they accidentally fall into the water they 

 lacerate their throats with the sharp points of their cloven feet. 



ORDER VIII. SOLID UNGULA.* 



474. What is the meaning of the term solidunguia / 



It is derived from the Latin solidus, solid, and ungula, a hoof. 

 A solidungulous animal is one the hoofs of which are entire. The 

 same animals are sometimes called solipeds } from solus, alone, or 

 solidus, and pes, foot. 



475. Though there is only one toe fully developed, there are rudiments of two 

 others under the snin, but they make no appearance externally. 



476. Why are solidungulous animals in a, wild state found 

 chiefly in plains ? 



Because their solid feet enable them to bound lightly along hard 

 pastures and sandy plains ; and the comparative swiftness of some 

 of the species, and the power of endurance in others, fit them for 

 ranging over long distances in search of their food. 



477. The wild ass, the zebra, the quagga, and also the wild horse of central Asia 

 are all found on the margins of great sandy deserts, or, at least, in those regions 

 where there is a great breadth of country, which is alternately drenched with rain 

 and burned with drought ; or where, as in central Asia, the general character is 

 dryness. They are not found on mountains, among rocks, or in close forests, like 

 leer and goats ; neither do they follow the lines of the great rivers and the rich 

 savannahs so much as the ox tribe. 



Ibis order is by some naturalists made a sub-division of the 



