zoo. CLASS.] 



jrODEliN VETERINARY PRACTICE. 



[zoo. ctJdm. 



tho iscliiuin, G3, is unusually produced back- 

 wards. Tlio extreme points of tlieae two bones 

 show the extent to which tlie bending muscles 

 and extending muscles of tlio leg are attached ; 

 and, according to tlio distance of these points 

 'rom the thigh-bone, tho angle, at which 

 they ftre therein inserted, becomes more fa- 

 vourable for their force. Tho longer, there- 

 fore, and the more horizontal the pelvis, the 

 better tho bind-qu.irter of the horse ; and its 

 qualities for swiftness and maintenance of 

 speed, depend much on the " good point" due 

 to the development of this part of the skeleton. 

 The femur, G5, is characterised by a third 

 trochauter springing from the outer part of the 

 shaft, before the great trochanter. There is a 

 splint-shaped rudiment of the proximal end of 

 the fibula, G7, but not any rudiment of the 

 distal end. The tibia, GG, is the chief bono of 

 the leg. The heel-bone, " c»lcaneum," is much 

 produced, and forms what is called the " hock." j 

 The astragalus is characterised by the depth ! 

 and obliquity of the superior trochlea, and by 

 tlie extensive and undivided anterior surface, 

 which is almost entirely appropriated by the 

 naviculare. The external cuneiforme is th(> 

 largest of the second series of tarsals, being in 

 proportion to the metatarsal of the large middle 

 digit, Hi, which it mainly supports. The dimi- 

 nished cuboides articulates partly with this, 

 partly with the rudiment of the metatarsal, 

 corresponding with that of the fourth toe, iv. 

 A similar rudiment of the metatarsal of the toe, 

 corresponding with that of the second, ii, 

 articulates with a cuneiforme medium — here, 

 liowever, the innermost of tho second series ot 

 tarsal bones. 



In the zoological classification of the horse, 

 he is placed in the division vertebrata — the 

 class mammalia — the tribe ungulata — the order 

 pachydermata — and the family solipida. The 

 generic character is, front teeth, in the upper 

 jaw, six, parallel ; in the lower jaw, six, some- 

 what projecting ; canine teeth, one on each 

 side, iu both jaws, remote from the rest ; feet 

 vtith undivided hoofs. 



Of the solipida, there are several species, as 

 the horse, the ass, the mule, the zebra, and the 

 quagga. 



Equus CahaUics is the common horse. 



£quus asinus, the ass, which has long been 

 condemned to a state of the lowest servitude, 



and considered as a species of less dignity tban 



tho horse; and has acquired, in most parts of 

 Europe, a character of contempt. In its 

 natural state, however, it exhibits an appearanco 

 superior both in beauty and vivacity. It is a 

 native of Asia, living, like the rest of this gonus, 

 in a gregarious manner. It is also said to bo 

 found in Africa, but very rarely iu Syria and 

 Arabia, where it was, in ancient times, ex- 

 tremely common. In its natural state its 

 colour is white, or a very pale silver grey, with 

 a tinge of straw-colour on the sides of the neck 

 and body. Along the back runs a deep brown 

 stripe of thickish wavy hair, to the beginning 

 of the tail. This stripe is crossed over tho 

 shoulders, as in the tume animal, by anothei 

 of similar colour ; but it is said that this is 

 peculiar to tlie male. 



The food of the wild ass consists chiefly of 

 saline, or bitter and lactescent plants. It ia 

 also fond of salt or brackish water. The 

 manners of these animals very much resemble 

 those of tho wild horse. They assemble in 

 troops, under tho conduct of a leader or 

 sentinel, and are extremely shy, vigilant, and 

 .swift. 



The mule is nothing more than a hybrid 

 animal, between this species and the horse; 

 differing in strength, size, and beauty, accord- 

 ing to the predominancy of its parental species, 

 ^lules are little used in this country ; but in 

 Spain and some other parts of Europe they 

 are in much esteem, and are remarkably sure- 

 footed. 



Equus zebra, or the zebra, is a native of tho 

 hotter parts of Africa, being found from 

 ^Ethiopia to tho Cape of Good Hope ; living 

 iu large herds, and possessing much of tho 

 manners both of the wild horse and the a&j. 

 It is both extremely swift and vigilant. It is 

 of a wilder disposition than either of the 

 former animals ; and even such as have been 

 taken very young, are with difficulty brought 

 to any degree of familiarity, and have rarely 

 been made to submit to tho bridle. 



Equtis quapga, or the quagga, is nearly allied 

 to the zebra, but marked with fewer and larger 

 nunds, of a brown colour, and chiefly disposed 

 on the fore parts of the animal, while the 

 hinder parts are spotted. Tho ground-coloup 

 of the quagga is of ferruginous tinge, especially 

 on the thighs and back. It is of a more dociio 



175 



