284 THE HORSES OF PREHISTORIC [CH. 



for the most part is also somewhat bending like a Hawke's beak, 

 which maketh him to rein with the better grace, and yet the 

 Italians do both write and saie, that these coursers be nothing 

 so strong now, as they have been in times past, partlie perhaps 

 for that like industrie of late daies hath not beene used in 

 breeding them, as in times past, and partlie for that nature 

 doth decaie everie day more and more, as well in man as in 

 beast. But howsoever they be, in mine opinion, their gentle 

 nature and docilitie, their comelie shape, their strength, their 

 courage, their sure footmanship, their well reining, their loftie 

 pace, their cleane toothing, their strong gallopping, and their 

 swift running well considered (as which things they have in 

 maner by nature) they excell numbers of other races, even so 

 farre as the faire greihounds the fowle Mastiffe curres." 



In modern times the horses of Naples are partly imported, 

 partly native-bred 1 . The little carrozzella horses are not 

 Italian, as the best come from Sardinia (supra, p. 274), and 

 the others from Tunis; the latter being known as 'Turkish 

 horses ' (cavalli Turchi). The carrozzella ponies seldom exceed 

 14*2 hands; they cost from 6 to 16 at three years old when 

 they are taken into work. They are regularly driven with a 

 nose-band, and not with a bit, though some of the nose-bands 

 furnished with teeth (morgi dentati) are as severe as any bit 2 . 

 The native horses of Naples (cavalli nostrali) are bred in Salerno 

 and Calabria and run to fifteen hands high, the average being 

 about 14'2 to 14*3. The outside price is about 40. The prin- 

 cipal horse-fair is at Foggia. The Calabrian horse is usually 

 a dull bay with a black stripe down the back, black legs, and 

 a tan muzzle. 



As the records of Roman history belong to a period con- 

 siderably later than that from which we have very full and 

 comparatively complete documents for the history of Sicily, the 



1 For this information respecting the Neapolitan horses of to-day I am 

 indebted to Mr E. Neville-Bolfe, B.A., H. B. M. Consul for South Italy, through 

 my friend Mr G. P. Bidder, M.A., Trin. Coll., Camb. 



2 For this information I am indebted to Mr G. P. Bidder, who has taken 

 much trouble to get me information about the structure and use of the nose- 

 band. He tells me that the riding-horses are controlled by the bit, and that 

 carriage-horses are driven with bits and English harness. 



