DAPPLED AND STRIPED HORSES 73 



which correspond with this curious fern-like mark, and also a bay- 

 coloured fern mark from the fore-leg of a brown Horse. The latter 

 would perhaps correspond to those interesting marks on the fore- 

 leg of Fig. 36. 



The fern-like mark on the hind-leg of the grey Horse, when 

 present, is always situated in the same place, viz., on the fleshy 

 part of the hind-leg, in front of and a little above the hock. 



On the legs of Horses the larger superficial veins have usually 

 a somewhat transverse disposition, while on the flanks they are 

 reticulate. 



That the superficial venous distribution of the Horse has some- 

 thing to do with the pigmentation of its skin, I have not much 

 doubt ; but what that ' something ' exactly is I am unable to say. 

 Perhaps I ought to say the nerves of the veins have something to 

 do with the pigmentation of the skin. 



I have ransacked all kinds of works on the Horse in search of 

 its general superficial venation, but have not found such a thing. 

 Indeed, Professor M'Fadyean has told me that there has been yet 

 no such publication. 



The following, however, may be interesting to the student of the 

 physiology of animal markings. 



Nine months after I had written out my ideas on the origin of 

 the markings of animals, and after I had received the photographs 

 of a dappled Horse from Mr. Stanborough, of Bexhill-on-the-Sea, 

 I read an article in the Nineteenth Century of April 1893, by Prince 

 Krapotkin, on ' Recent Science.' 



On p. 687 he writes thus : 



* Franz Werner's researches upon the colouring of Snakes, 

 recently embodied in a separate work, show that the temporary 

 and irregular spots which appear in Fishes and Frogs under the 

 influence of artificial irritations are of the same character, and have 



