THE BREEDS OF HORSES. 261 



advanced age than in youth. The pastern bones of the fore 

 leg were very short, strong- and upright, thos^ of the hind 

 leg being much more obliquely placed. The feet, as a rule, 

 especially the fore ones, were large, flat, weak at the heels, 

 and invested with horn of somewhat soft and spongy tex- 

 ture. Thighs narrow, being insufficiently clothed with mus- 

 cle on their inner aspects to prevent the appearance of what 

 is vulgarly but characteristically termed "split up." Thj 

 hocks were of rather defective formation, but showing littlj 

 predisposition to disease, generally too short, too round, and 

 not sharply defined; for these reasons it may be inferred that 

 the hind action was limited and comparatively wanting in 

 elasticity. The general contour of the hind legs was consid- 

 ably bent, the hocks being thrown backward and the feet 

 forward. The breast wide and full of muscle, indicative of 

 great strength rather than quick movement; the back longer, 

 narrower and "dipping" rather too much behind the withers. 

 The heart-ribs were well arched, but not very deep; the 

 hinder ones were also rounded, but short, the last one placed 

 too far forward, giving to the body an appearance of undue 

 length and "lightness." The croup bent at considerable 

 angle, denoting what would now be considered want of qual- 

 ity. Ths dock strong and thick, with powerful broad attach- 

 ment to the trunk. 



The tout ensemble of the stallion exhibited grand develop- 

 ment of the fore-hand; which rendered the appearance of 

 the hind parts very mean by comparison a conformation, 

 however, that a moment's reflection will show to be in per- 

 fect accord with natural ordination; from mankind down- 

 ward in the scale of mammalian creation, the entire male is 

 deficient in that development of the posterior parts so nota- 

 ble in the perfect female of each species, and for apparent 

 reasons. 



The growth of hair upon these old stallions was remark- 

 ably luxuriant, that of the mane and tail being abundant, 

 strong in texture, glossy, and very often several feet in 

 length. The cannons, fetlocks, and coronets, both fore and 

 hind, were garnished with a profusion of coarse, long hair, 

 distinctive of the Cart horse breed. The silky growth in 



