ORIGIN OF THE ARAB HORSE, ETC. 205 



bone and pasterns short, the whole accompanied by a 

 soft skin and fine, flexible hair, powerful lungs, and good 

 feet with heels well off the ground. He says further, 

 'Look in a horse for speed and bottom. One that has 

 speed alone and no bottom must have a blemish in his 

 descent, and one that has bottom and no speed must have 

 some defect, open or concealed.' 



The favourite colours or coats are — 



' The white. Take the horse white as a silken flag, with- 

 out spot, with the circle of his eyes black. 



' The black. He must be black as a night, without moon 

 or stars. 



' The bay. He must be nearly black, or streaked with 

 gold. 



'The chestnut. Desire a dark shade. When he flies 

 beneath the sun it is the wind ! The Prophet was partial 

 to chestnuts. 



' The dark, dappled grey, called " the grey of the white 

 pigeon," if resembling the stone of the river. He will 

 fill the douar when it is empty, and will preserve us from 

 the combat on the day when the muzzles of the guns 

 touch each other.' 



They prefer greys when the head is of a lighter colour 

 than the rest of the body. 



' The yellow dun, which must be dark, with black tail 

 and mane.' 



White is the colour for princes, but does not stand 

 heat. The black brings good fortune, but fears rocky 

 ground. The chestnut is the most active. 



' If one tells you that he has seen a horse fly in the 

 air, ask him what colour he was, and if he replies 

 " chestnut," you must have a chestnut.' 



