HAIR. 343 



and Clydesdales, is evidently a result of artificial selection. 

 Almost all persons who regard these ponderous animals 

 chiefly from a "show" point of view, assert that abund- 

 ance of " feather " is an indication that the bone which 

 it covers is of specially good quality ; but this idea has 

 no physiological basis, although " feather," like fat, is an 

 effective means for the concealment of structural defects. 

 The results of horse-breeding in all countries demonstrate 



Pho'O bij] [J. DKLTON, PARIS. 



Fig. 40S. — Gelding by a Japanese stallion out of a Russian mare. 



the fact that a Uberal supply of lime in the soil is a 

 potent factor in the production of good bone (p. 404 et seq.). 

 Mr. Anthony, the well known Norfolk breeder of Hack- 

 neys, tells me that Shire horses which have been bred 

 on chalky soil, like that in Norfolk, never have as good 

 a show of hair on their legs, as those brought up on 

 land with less hme in it. 



Mr. Sexton, secretary to the English Cart-horse Society, 

 in his essay on cart-horses, writes as follows : " One of the 



