IMPORTED MESSENGER. 117 



depth and rotundity. His loin was well arched, broad and strong. His hips 

 and quarters were " incomparably superior to all others." The column of the 

 vertebra, beinsi- of unusual depth and strength, gave the setting on of the tail 

 a distinctive but elegant character. The tail was carried in tine style ; like 

 the mane, it was not in superabundant quantity, but there was no such scanti- 

 ness as to detract from the beauty and grace of the animal. His stifles were 

 well spread and swelling, but there appears to have been no unusual develop- 

 ment at this point. From the stifle to the hock, and from the elbow to the 

 knee, no writer that we can now recall has given us a description of either 

 length or strength. We may, therefore, take it for granted these points had 

 no unusual development of muscle, but were in harmony with the general 

 contour and make-up of a great, strong horse. His hocks and knees were 

 unusually large and bony, with all the members strong and clearly defined. 

 The cannon-bones were short and flat, and the ligaments back of them were 

 very large and braced a good way ofl", so that the leg was broad and flat. 

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The conviction is reasonable, and grows out of evidence that comes from 

 every quarter, and we have no disposition to surrender it, that the bones of 

 Messenger's limbs were unusually large and strong for those of a thorough- 

 bred. His pasterns and feet were all that could be desired ; and as an evidence 

 of the excellence and health of his imderpinning, several writers have put it 

 on record that, whether in the stable or on the show-ground, he never was 

 known to mopingly rest one leg by standing on the other three, but was 

 always prompt and upright. 



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From this description, it is a very easy matter to pick out the features which 

 gave him his coarse and badly bred appearance. His big head, long ears, 

 short neck, low withers, upright shoulders, large bones, and, possibly, coarse 

 hair, complete the catalogue. 



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The coarseness, the cart-horse appearance, was in the family, but it did not 

 seem to prevent them from beating some of the best that England produced 

 in successive generations. 



I may add to the above, that from a close study of many of the 

 descendants of Messenger of the present generation, and those coming 

 from various separate and united lines of descent, I am satisfied that 

 he transmitted to his offspring a certain proportion or physical con- 

 formation with very marked uniformity. They display a medium 

 leverage — a length from hip to hock of about 39 inches, and a thigh 

 23 inches, a long forearm and a short front cannon; they are not wide 

 at the stifle, and do not make a great display of motion in trotting 

 action. It is altogether probable that Sampson, and perhaps Mam- 

 brino, may have been somewhat longer in the rear leverage than 

 Messenger. The long line of racing blood through which his dam and 



