292 



not really British, but are believed to be of Flemish 

 origin. They are very docile, easily trained, and 

 figure prominently in circuses. The tender pink skin 

 suggests delicacy of constitution and ceems better 

 adapted to warm than to cold climates. 



In addition to the majority of foals being dun- 

 coloured at birth, they have apparent striping over 

 the rump and forehead. In certain lights and at 

 certain angles these appear to be actual stripes, but 

 a close examination will reveal the fact that they are 

 largely fanciful. This subt-e colouring is produced 

 by the ridges and waves in the coat, because, when 

 the hair is pressed down and kept flat they disappear 

 at once, but immediately the hair is released they 

 reappear. Too much importance has frequently been 

 attached to these water-stripes by zoologists in en- 

 deavouring to connect the first coat of the foal with 

 its remote ancestors. As a matter of fact these subtle 

 ridges naturally disappear with the shedding of the 

 first coat, and, as a rule, are never again seen. There 

 are exceptional cases where faint stripes are retained 

 for several years, apart from the deeply-marked lines 

 peculiar to dun horses, but to assert that all foals 

 possess actual stripes at birth is a delusion resulting 

 from a too superficial examination. The colour of a 

 foal is no indication of the colour it will be when it 

 has attained the age of horsehood. 



Most horses when newly clipped are a different 

 colour, which is explained by the base of the hair 

 being a different shade from the ends. Generally 



