312 



XVIL REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



1. THE HORSE. 



IN the genus Equus, naturalists comprehend six species or 

 animals nearly allied: 1. Equus caballus, the horse. 2. 

 Equus nemionus, the dziggithai. 3. Equus asinus, the ass. 

 4. Equus quagga, the quagga. 5. Equus zebra, the moun- 

 tain zebra. 6. Equus burchellii, the zebra of the plains. Of 

 the species enumerated, those which have been domesticated 

 and brought under the dominion of man, are the Equus cabal- 

 lus and Equus asinus, and a hybrid produced by these two 

 species. 



But for the domestication and services of the horse, we 

 should have yet been far behind in civilization, and without 

 him our luxuries and comforts would have been vastly circum- 

 scribed. By his aid the labour of agriculture is greatly lessened 

 commercial intercourse facilitated and the transportation 

 of men and merchandise, as well as the produce of the earth, 

 effected with rapidity even to distant parts. The form of the 

 horse is the most perfect and elegant of all other animals. This 

 perfection of form and pliability of physical organization, adapts 

 him for speed; while his extreme docility of disposition, ren- 

 ders him a willing and obedient servant to man.* The horse 

 is vastly modified in his form and character by the physical 

 condition of the countries in which he is naturalized. 



Asia is supposed to be the native country of the horse in 

 the extensive plains of that country, he is found at the present 

 day, roving in unrestrained freedom. In the vast and fertile 

 plains of South America, immense troops of wild horses are to 

 be found, sprung from individuals taken to that country by the 

 Spaniards. They have increased so astonishingly, that they 

 are to be met with in troops of many thousands, and it is ex- 

 tremely hazardous for travellers to pass through the districts 

 where they herd. The wild horses of America are generally 

 of a chestnut-bay and a sorrel colour some few are black. 

 At what period the horse was first domesticated and brought 

 into the service of man, is not known. It was probably coeval 

 with the earliest improved state of society. The first instance 

 of horses being mentioned in the sacred scriptures is in Genesis, 



* Information for the People, p. 81. 



