4 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



ment of the horse. There are four principles and dis- 

 tinct temperaments seen in horses, — the nervous^ bilious^ 

 sanguine^ and lymphatic. They are by nature distinct, 

 dissimilar, and not seldom antagonistic. Still they rare- 

 ly are found pure, separate. In most cases they are 

 found to be blended, mingled, co-existent. Still, gener- 

 ally, one is found preponderating over all others ; and 

 according to the degree of this preponderance of the 

 one over the rest is the constitution of the animal being 

 inspected determined. Let us suppose that we are 

 examining a horse with a nervous temperament. Such a 

 horse will have a large, full brain, well-developed spinal 

 column, and nerves of acute sensitiveness. From such 

 an organization come quickness of movement, nervous 

 excitability, and great delicacy of feeling. Such a horse 

 will have rapidity of motion, a quick, lightning-like 

 gather, a restless ear, and a bright, animated counte- 

 nance. He will be apt to take the hills at a jump, and 

 enter and leave his stable with a spring. He will suffer 

 untold agonies on the application of the iron curry-comb 

 in the careless groom's hand, and will need watching 

 and a taut rein on the road to prevent his shying. 

 This, in brief, is the picture of a horse with a nervous 

 temperament. The Vermont Black Hawk types this 

 class. 



The next in order is the bilious temperament. This 

 temperamental organization is associated with a large 

 muscular system. The horse with a bilious temp)erament 

 Avill have large bones and large muscles. The masses 



