98 HISTORY OF THE 



possesses, along with grandeur of stature, the 

 greatest elegance and proportion of parts. 

 By comparing him with the animals above or 

 below him, we find that the ass is ill-made, and 

 that the head of the lion is too large ; that the 

 limbs of the ox are too slender, and too short in 

 proportion to the size of his body ; that the camel 

 is deformed ; and that the grosser animals, — as the 

 rhinoceros, hippopotamus, and elephant, — may be 

 considered as rude and shapeless masses. 



" The great difference between the head of a 

 man, and that of the quadruped, consists in the 

 length of their jaws, which is the most ignoble 

 of all characters. But, although the jaws of the 

 horse be very long, he has not, like the ass, an 

 air of imbecility, nor, like the ox of stupidity. 

 The regularity and proportion of the parts of his 

 head, give him a light and sprightly aspect, 

 being gracefully attached to his finely arched neck, 

 which is well supported by the beauty of his chest. 

 He elevates his head, as if anxious to exalt him- 

 self above the condition of other quadrupeds. In 

 this noble attitude he regards man, face to 

 face. 



'' His eyes are open, lively, and intelligent ; his 

 ears handsome, and of a proper height, being nei- 

 ther too long, like those of the ass, nor too short, 

 like those of the bull. His mane adorns his grace- 

 ful neck, and gives him the appearance of strength 

 and courage. His long bushy tail covers and ter- 



