190 THE EQUIDiE IN GENERAL. 



them, often pierces through when least expected. 

 Qualities of so elevated an order appear to be neces- 

 sarily connected with greater irritability of nerve, 

 and this sensitiveness is manifested in horses more 

 than in other Equidte, their skins suffering so much 

 from the stings of flies, that Nature, in order to en- 

 able them to have leisure to feed and repose, has 

 furnished their neck with a long mane, and the tail 

 forms a sweeping brush which reaches every part 

 of the body where the head cannot attain : they 

 have moreover a quivering muscular action of the 

 skin which impedes the tormenting power of insects, 

 and both these means of defence are in proportion 

 to the irritability of the species and to their degree 

 of docility; for in the ass these are scarcely any, 

 and in the dauw we may expect from the presence 

 of them that placability is every way attainable. 



The period of copulation, the time of gestation, 

 the number of offspring, the years of growth, the 

 conditions of dentition, and the duration of life, are 

 in all nearly alike, or differ only from local causes ; 

 none appear to suffer convulsions from dentition ; 

 all are in disposition gay, sociable, and emulous; 

 even the ass has the instinct of trying his speed 

 against competitors : the voice of all is sonorous, 

 loud, but, excepting in the horse, exceedingly dis- 

 agreeable. 



In animals whose typical species is so well known, 

 extended generalities are not necessary ; and among 

 the more particular questions, considering the most 

 important to belong to the veterinary science, to 



