THEHORSE. 3] 



quite elastic, and that thousrh the surface was dry, water might have been found 

 within a few feet, if not inches, anywhere helow it. 



We apprehend, however, that these " very fine four-mile King's plate horses" are 

 exactly such as ought to have been selected for importation to this coui'try, instead 

 of the fashionable stock, bred to speed, under the influences before mentioned. 



7'he ([uestion has been raised, and may well be entertained witliout implying any 

 narrow or unbecoming feeling of national jealousy; — whether the turf-horse of Enor- 

 lish stock d(ies ivd degenerate in Jimerica? Referring to the controling influences of 

 climate, soil, and food, there is certainly no reason to infer that he should ; but, from 

 the very nature of these, quite the contrary ; and why may we not believe that there 

 is in nature, a power which will coerce animal, as we know it will vegetable "Toduc- 

 tions, to forego their original peculiarities, and partially conform themselves, in pro- 

 cess of time, to the more immutable laws of soil and climate .' We recollect to have 

 heard Mr. Jefferson, in proof of the influence of soil over vegetables, state, that ha 

 knew a French gentleman, on his inheritance of a famous and very profitable wine 

 estate, impair at once the quality of the wine, and his own income, n^aterially, by 

 employing some crude and unsuitable manure to fertilize his vineyard. The vines 

 bore more abundantly, but the wine lost its flavour, and the vineyard its wonted 

 repute. So it is with other vegetables. The celebrated white wheat will change 

 from white to red, on being transplanted into any other from its natale solum — the 

 eastern shore of Marj'land and Virginia ; and the celebrated Havana tobacco, with change 

 of soil and climate, loses both its fiue texture and rich fragrance. Thus, without any 

 violence of presumption, we may assert the influence of both soil and climate on the 

 constitution and temper of the horse. How long would the satin-coated, thin-skinned, 

 flint-footed, hard-boned, muscular and proud-spirited Arabian, accustomed to a short 

 bite, and delighting in a hot sun, retain, after being transferred to the rich and suc- 

 culent pastures of the "low countries," the high and peculiar characteristics which 

 have given him pre-eminence over all the families of his race 1 



Exposed in rigorous climates, the horse could not long survive in a state of nature, 

 but when protected and well supplied with food, it is difficult to determine how fai 

 towards the pole he might be sustained ; and we may here quote from good authority, 

 " That this animal existed before the flood, the researches of geologists afford 

 abundant proof. There is not a portion of Europe, nor scarcely any part of the 

 globe, from the tropical plains of India, to the frozen regions of Siberia — from the 

 northern extremities of the new world to the very southern point of America, in 

 which the fossil remains of the Horse have not been found mingled with the 

 bones of the Hippopotamus, the Elephant, the Rhinoceros, the Bear,^the Tiger, the 

 Deer, and various other animals, some of which, like the Mastodon, have "passed 

 away." 



In point of fact, however, every other circumstance being nearly similar, the Horse 

 thrives best in countries within or near the torrid zone. In the mild climates of 

 Northwestern Europe, this noble animal reaches a high development. The wild 

 horse of this continent, brought from Texas, or the more remote provincius infernos, 

 and tamed, we have been told, though in general unsightly when compared to the 

 high-bred horse of the Unite 1 States, is greatly superior in hardiness and ease of 

 support. We may furtlier sustain these reflections on the influence of climate, with 

 the opinion of a (rentleman of great observation and knowledge of geography and 

 natural history, Mr. D.irby. who thinks that "in the zone of North America, com- 

 prising Western Louisiana. Texas. &c., to the Gulf of California, this most splendid 

 auxiliary of man, with anything like equal care an>l skill, will reach his utmost devel- 

 opment of form, stren<Tth. br-a'.itv, and afleetionate docilitv." 



In additional support of our hypothesis, that climate and food have their influence 

 on the form and chancter of animals, and that these influences in England are less 

 auspicious to high perfection of thf Horse than the warmer and dryer climates of the 

 United States, we may adduce the remarks of English writers of authority. The 

 effect indeed of climato and soil on wool-bearing animals is asserted hv all natural- 

 ists. Bakewell, who bestowed jjarti'-ular attention on the subject, contends that the 

 softness of wool depends cliiefly fa t!ie soil on which the sheep are fed. Professor 

 Cline. whose able disquisition we have already freely quoted, says " the pliancy 



