166 FACHYDliRMATA. 



more or less banded with blackish brown, and always have a dis- 

 tinct dorsal line, the tail only bristly at the end, and they have 

 warts only on the arms, (fore legs,) and none on the hind legs; 

 and have long hair on the tail, from its insertion to its extremity." 



The number of teeth in this family is forty-two, viz. twelve 

 incisors or nippers, four canines and twenty-six molars. While 

 the animal is young, the incisors have their crowns furnished 

 with a groove; the molars have square crowns marked or edged 

 with four crescents of enamel. Between the canines (which 

 are developed in the male alone,) and the first molar, is a broad, 

 open space, which is capable of receiving the bit, (see Plate IV. 

 fig. 5,) with which these animals are governed when in a state of 

 domestication. The female ordinarily produces one young at a 

 time, which is called a foal, and suckled during six or seven 

 months. Africa and Asia are the native regions of the EQUIDJE. 

 They range in large herds over the extended plains and table 

 lands which are uncovered with forests. Two species, the 

 Horse and the Ass, have been domesticated and widely dispersed 

 over the earth. 



E. calallus, (Lat. a Keffel or Saddle Horse,) The HORSE. 



It has been well remarked that if custom had not dignified the 

 Lion with the title of "King of beasts," reason could no where 

 confer that honor more deservedly than on the horse. His cour- 

 age, strength, fleetness, his symmetrical form and grandeur of 

 deportment, are unalloyed by any quality injurious to other crea. 

 tures, or adapted to create the aversion of man, whose orders he 

 implicitly obeys, whose severest tasks he undertakes with a 

 cheerful alacrity, and to whose pleasures he contributes with an- 

 imation and delight. On the battle-field, he shows the most res- 

 olute fierceness and courageous ardor. In the poetical language 

 of the sacred writings, "His neck is clothed with thunder. The 

 glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth the valley and re- 

 joiceth in his strength. He goeth on to meet armed men. He 

 mocketh at danger and is not affrighted; neither turneth he 

 back from the sword." (Job, xxxix.) 



Much discussion has existed concerning what region the Horse 

 originally inhabited, and to what nation we are indebted for his 

 first subjugation. It is well known this animal is found wild in 

 the Western as well as the Eastern Continent ; but there is 

 no doubt it was at first confined to the latter, where the wild spe- 

 cies, such as the Zebra, the Quagga, etc., still range in freedom. 

 The testimony of the sacred writings is decidedly in favor of the 

 eastern origin of the horse, making it quite evident that the 

 Egyptians first subdued it to obedience and servitude. The first 

 mention of the horse occurs during Joseph's wise administration 



