26 



THE HORSE. 



successive periods of very rapid gaits, none the less it is 

 expedient to explain the period preceding that when the 

 body of the horse is at the utmost extension. 



Of the two periods of the racing gallop, that of the 

 preparation for the detention is thus effected : the anterior 

 members have just quitted the ground and are both bent 



to the rear, whilst the posterior stretch out to replace 

 them, and even mark their trails much in advance of those 

 left by the first (fig. n). 



The croup is strongly engaged beneath the animal, 

 the neck is extended to the fore and the tail is detached ; 

 my advice is to avoid the reproduction of this ungraceful 

 posture, which appears forced and yet is accurate. 



Latterly, from America, have come instantaneous 

 photographs taken by Mr. Muybridge, which present the 

 series of the different positions of the precipitated gallop. 



On the appearance of these silhouettes, which at a 

 first glance must be confessed surprising, horse lovers, 

 and especially artists, vehemently protested, because in 

 them they found no correspondence with what, until 

 then, draughtsmen had offered as representing the gait 

 of the gallop. 



