THE NOBLF. SCIENCE. 95 



look like that of a race-horse m the highest condition. 

 The grand object, however, of clipping, and the principal 

 benefit derived from it, is this, that a horse, on his return 

 from hunting, will get comfortably dry in about fifteen 

 minutes, instead of remaining, for several hours, saturated 

 in sweat, which is not to be absorbed by manual labour. 

 There are many men, amongst w^hich number I may 

 honestly include myself, who would infinitely prefer 

 going without dinner, rather than forego the luxury of 

 the toilet which precedes it ; and, if a horse could be 

 questioned, there is no doubt that he would rather be 

 with, than without, the dressing which relieves him from 

 the incrustations of sweat and dirt, which he finds so 

 disagreeable, that you will observe him taking every 

 opportunity of rubbing his head, eyes, nose, and ears, 

 against any object within his reach, after severe exercise. 

 But if this dressing is necessarily protracted till mid- 

 night, because, on account of his great coat, he is con- 

 stantly breaking out afresh, it must be a source of no 

 little annoyance to him, and, moreover, materially inter- 

 fere with his hours of repose. 



The best time for clipping is as soon as the winter 

 coat is set, which is commonly about the beginning of 

 November. A proceeding causing what I may term, 

 without intending a pun, so great and unnatural a 

 change of liahit, must not be undertaken without due 

 caution, in guarding against the ill effects which might 



