258 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



to be opened to us, and J suspect we shall find that the 

 Egyptians derived their horses, as well as everything 

 else, from the still older Asiatics. 



It would be in vain to attempt in a work of this kind 

 to describe the different species and varieties of horses. 

 I shall, therefore, quickly pass on to a small selection 

 from the numerous anecdotes placed before me, a few of 

 which are the results of personal experience. Before 

 I do this, however, it may be as well to make a few 

 observations concerning their food. They are eminently 

 vegetable feeders grains and dried grasses, such as 

 hay and straw, also clover, being preferred when they 

 are in constant service. The more valuable sorts are 

 seldom much used while they are feeding entirely on 

 green grass. They are extremely fond of the niceties 

 which are so often bestowed on pets, such as bread, 

 apples, cakes, etc., and some are passionately fond of 

 sugar. M. Frederic Cuvier taught one he constantly 

 rode to play certain tricks, rewarding him for them 

 with sugar ; and if the provision contained in his pocket 

 were not sufficient, he would stop at a roadside inn and 

 procure some more for the horse. Accordingly, when 

 the sagacious animal came again to these houses, he 

 would perform the same antics which had before pro- 

 cured him the sugar, and then stand still, as if again to 

 receive his reward. While speaking of this creature, I 

 may as well mention that he delighted in pulling down 

 his own hay, and feeding the goats which lived on the 

 other side of his palings with it ; and once, when he 

 was fed with straw on account of some malady, his 

 companions, who ate at the same manger, were so con- 

 cerned at what they thought his inferior fare, that they 

 pushed their hay to him. 



