60 INTRODUCTION. 



poetry of the book of Job, from the times of Homer, 

 Aristotle, Xenophon, Herodotus, Virgil, Varro, 

 Columella, Gesner, Aldrovandus, Johnston, Buffon, 

 Linnaeus, Pennant, Pallas, Gmelin to Cuvier, Bell, 

 and a host of others, ancient and modern, facts and 

 observations have been accumulating, researches 

 pursued and descriptions produced, where we trace 

 patient investigation and often eloquent description. 

 It must be confessed that the inquiry is all but ex- 

 hausted, and that we must confine our views to a 

 collection of the more prominent facts, for the atten- 

 tion of those who have neither time nor inclination 

 to search the whole field, and while due place is given 

 them, draw forth from their general or particular 

 tenor some observations and comparisons that perhaps 

 have not as yet been offered to the public or have 

 only met with transient attention. Thus we may 

 still hope to submit in the result of our labours some- 

 thing worthy of notice to the learned, and not unin- 

 viting to the casual reader, whose object is merely to 

 obtain correct information combined with amusement. 

 Where historical reflections embracing the earliest 

 periods of antiquity are concerned, we hope to point 

 out some philological considerations that may obtain 

 the assent of linguists and assist inquiries on the pro- 

 gress of the more ancient human colonies ; particu- 

 larly the irruptions of the first Equestrian conquering 

 hordes, and the indications where the Mongolian 

 variety of man commences to press westward upon the 

 Caucasian. In the discussion on the fossil remains of 

 Equidae there also may be found arguments deserving 



