152 NATURAL HISTOtlY. 



or fifteen years, and the more vigorous till they are a- 

 bove eighteen years. 



The duration of the life of horses is like that of 

 every other species of animals, in proportion to the 

 length of the time of their growth. Man who is a- 

 bove fourteen years in growing, lives six or seven times 

 as long, that is ninety or a hundred years. The horse 

 who attains his full growth in four years, lives six or 

 seven times as long, that is twenty-five or thirty years. 

 There' are so few examples to contradict this rule, 

 that we should not even regard them as exceptions 

 from which we may draw any precedents. It is wor- 

 thy of remark too, that as robust horses arrive at their 

 full growth in less time than delicate ones, they also 

 live less time, and at fifteen years of age are old. 



The Arabian horses are the handsomest known in 

 Europe, they are larger and plumper than those of 

 Barbary, and equally well-shaped, but as they are not 

 ften brought into this country, riding-masters are 

 not able to give an exact account of their perfections 

 and defects. 



The horses of Barbary are more common. They 

 are frequently negligent in their paces, and must be 

 often reminded. They are very swift and strong, 

 light, and fit for ^hunting. These horses seem the 

 most proper to breedTrom ; it were only to be wished 

 that they were larger, as they seldom exceed four feet 

 eight inches high. 



The Turkish horses are not so well proportioned as 

 those of Barbary. They will, however, travel a great 

 way, and are long-winded. This is not surprising, if 

 Ave consider, that in warm countries the bones of ani- 

 mals, are harder than in cold climates, and it is for this 

 reason that they have more strength in the legs. 



