r . 



The Horse genus seems to be susceptible of far less variety of form 

 than our other domesticated animals, although applicable to a greater 

 variety of uses. A native of every country in the old world, it forms 

 matter of curious speculation, that he should be found in no part of 

 the new, or America, abounding as that immense country does, both 

 upon the continent and the islands, Avith soils and provision so 

 well adapted to his support; and so amply as that fact has been 

 proved by his multitudinous increase in those countries, since his 

 first introduction by the Spaniards and other Europeans. Is it then, 

 that there was one, or a limited number of spots upon the earth, on 

 which the Horse originated, and whence he emigrated, or was selected 

 to replenish other regions ? There is a very obvious reason which 

 ought to set all such speculations at rest : there can exist no physi- 

 cal possibility of reducing them to facts. The non-existence of the 

 Horse in America, previously to its discovery by the Europeans, has 

 however been disputed ; but I recollect not by whom, or upon what 

 ground. 



In a division of the equine genus into its original and artificial 

 varieties, and their appropriations, I shall propose the following con- 

 cise theory, sufficient, 1 apprehend, for every useful or practical pur- 

 pose. The Horse, then, may be rationally supposed to have consisted 

 originally, of two grand divisions or species; the silken-haired, flat, and 

 fine-boned Courser, and the full-bodied, coarse, and rough-haired steed, 

 adapted to draught and the more laborious purposes. It is also, in- 

 deed, probable, that size may have been an original distinction, in 

 these and all other animals, since we often see so much perfection and 

 originality of form, in the smaller sizes, as to render it almost impos- 

 sible to attribute such accident to degeneration. 



From the above original species, may fairly be derived, all those 

 numerous varieties which we at this day witness in different parts of 

 the world. Soil and climate must indubitably have considerable ef- 

 fects, through a long course of ages, in producing varieties of form, 

 colour, character, and properties. The largest animals are generally 

 found to be the production of the rich lowlands of temperate climates, 

 abounding in rich and succulent food. The fine-skinned, with elegant 



symmetry 



