3d2 



POINTS. 



neck is not, however, to be considered only as governing other organs, 

 but is also to be regarded as a consequence of a prevailing absence of 

 development. So may the frequent accompaniment of a vicious dispo- 

 sition be viewed as the result of that feebleness which converts the 

 easiest task into a mighty labor, and of that absence of beauty which 

 can neither kindle the pride nor awaken the fondness of the owner. 



Certain supposed judges are greatly prejudiced in favor of a short 

 neck. The characteristic is in some minds associated with the pres- 

 ence of bodily strength ; but it cannot be remarkable for denoting the 

 existence of such a quality, because an absence of length must abbre- 

 viate the amount of muscular fiber. Shortness of neck, besides sug- 

 gesting the presence of fat, and interfering with activity, unfits the 

 animal for certain situations. A bull neck, although its possessor 

 inhabited the most luxuriant pasture, would compel the creature to 

 subsist on short commons. Nags, however long may be the legs, or 

 short shall be their necks, generally manage to crop the grass, although 

 to do so may cause a constant strain upon the limbs, thus counteracting 

 one of those effects which the run is invariably supposed to realize. 

 Below is inserted an illustration showing the artifice adopted by animals 

 of this description. 



THE MANNER IN WHICH A BHORT-NECKKD HORSE MANAGES TO FEED OFF THE GROUND. 



Having noticed those portions of the spinal column in which thf» ver- 

 tebrae are not associated with other bones, or do not enter into the forma- 



