352 NAVIX ON THE HORSE. 



and very rough on its borders and outside. From the sacrum 

 the haunch-bone extends backward and slightly downward. 

 The body of the bone is narrower and smoother than the ends 

 of it. The backward part of the bone is very rough on the 

 outside, and marked by a large, deep depression, or socket, in 

 which the head of the thigh-bone rests. Inward and slightly 

 backward from this depression a thick portion of the bone 

 curves, or turns under, to meet a similar part of its mate from 

 the opposite side, where the two are firmly united. Backward 

 and upward from behind, where the thigh joins, is a large, 

 rough portion of the haunch-bone projecting backward and up- 

 ward, and which forms the prominence of the buttock. 



These bones form a sort of basin, which the word pelvis 

 means, and contain, or rather support, the parts of the bowels 

 lying far back, as the bladder, rectum, etc. 



The bones of the pelvis also furnish points of attachment 

 for many of the muscles of the abdomen, belly, hinder extrem- 

 ities, etc. The length and degree of slope downward and 

 backward are important points to be taken into consideration 

 in judging of the qualities of the horse. Long pelvic bones, 

 standing well back, give that length of quarter which horse- 

 men so much admire, and which is a most desirable quality. 

 These bones, when they project too much downward, give 

 origin to drooping of the rump, a condition unfavorable to fleet 

 action or great strength, for the reason that such a form de- 

 prives the muscles of the proper degree of leverage. 



BONES OF THE FORE EXTREMITIES, OR ARMS. 



The bones of each arm are twenty-one in number; conse- 

 quently, the number of both is forty-two. They are named 

 from above downward. The bones of the shoulder are, the 

 shoulder-blade, or scapula, and the upper arm-bone, or hu- 

 merus ; of the fore-arm, the radius, or large arm-bone, and the 

 ulna, or smaller arm-bone ; of the knee, the first row from the 

 inner side outward, the scaphoid, lunar, and cuniform; the 



