THE HORSE 65 



of the extremity have proved highly advantageous in defence, 

 and the creatures have acquired certain peculiar ways of 

 using their feet effectively to this end. The solid character 

 of the hoof, its considerable weight, and the great power of 

 the muscles of the hams, which are the principal agents in 

 propelling the animal, make the hind feet capable of deliver- 

 ing a very powerful blow. The measure of its efficiency may 

 be judged from the fact that a lion has been slain by a stroke 

 from the foot of a donkey, and in their wild state a herd of 

 horses with their heads together, can beat off the attack of 

 the most powerful beasts of prey. In using the hind feet for 

 assault or defence, horses have adopted an effective method 

 of kicking which is unknown among other animals. Resting 

 on their fore-legs, the hinder feet are thrown backward and 

 upward, so that they may strike a blow six feet from the 

 ground. Many of our cloven-footed animals have learned to 

 strike cutting blows with the sharp hoofs of their fore-limbs 

 our bulls will stamp a fallen enemy with great force ; but 

 the backward kick of the horse is a peculiar movement, and 

 is distinctly related to the peculiar structure of the animal's 

 extremities. 



It is an interesting fact that the development of a long 

 and slowly elaborated series leading to the making of the 

 horse appears to have taken place mainly, if not altogether, 

 in the region about the headwaters of the Missouri River. 

 In the olden days when this great work was done, that part 

 of our continent was a well-watered country, much of its sur- 

 face being occupied by great lakes which have long since dis- 

 appeared. In the deposits accumulated in these bodies of 

 fresh water are found the bones of the olden species telling 

 the history of their series. It is not yet certain that the final 

 5 



