90 THE HORSE. 



Recognised effected bv the first or second crosses. 



by physio- 

 logists. j]^g horsemen of that day recognised the 



deficiency but could not account for it. 

 The knowledge of the physiology of 

 breeding was not understood by them, 

 and few horsemen understand it better 

 now; and had it not been for the acci- 

 dental importation of the Darley and 

 Godolphin Arabians, we should not now 

 be able to boast of possessing the best 

 breeds of horses in the world. 



Admiral Rous, although knowing the 

 benefit of judicious crossing, could not 

 recognise it in the thorough-bred. The 

 royal mares of Charles, and the numerous 

 imported Oriental horses were all alike 

 to him ; they were pure- bred aiiimals 

 of the desert, " without a single drop of 

 tions! ^ English blood in their veins." But at 



