D E X T E E . 451 



and the celerity of their dilatation and construction, 

 govern the length and quickness of the stride. While it 

 is impossible to say from an outside measurement which 

 is the most muscular animal when there is only a third of 

 an inch less diameter in the arm, and when harder or 

 longer continued work had fined down the tissue in one 

 more than the other, and while the effect between gallop- 

 ing or trotting in augmenting the muscular development, 

 cannot be definitely stated, Lecomte was, and Dexter is, 

 a very powerful animal in this particular, which further 

 consideration will certainly show. 



"Around the knee" Dexter is larger than any of the 

 others, the place where the measurement was taken being 

 squarely across the bony projection, to which the back 

 muscles are attached by their tendons. The measurement 

 around the cannon, being only exceded by Leviathan and 

 Lecomte, shows that he is the equal of a majority of 

 thoroughbreds in this particular. 'Not only is the size 

 analagous, but the appearance is similar, and his legs 

 show the preponderance of the racing blood that flows in 

 his veins. Around the hock he is smaller than any that 

 I am comparing him with, and after an hour's critical ex- 

 amination, the most faulty point I could find was the shape 

 of his left hock. 



There is a little fullness observable in the lower and 

 outer portion of the joint, which I have no doubt has 

 always existed. The hardest usage might never effect it, 

 as I have seen much worse withstand the wear and strain 

 of several season's racing. Still, in an animal otherwise 

 as well formed as Dexter, it is a great pity that this defect 

 should exist. The off hock is finely shaped, and the 

 width above them is greater than is usually seen. " From 

 point of hip to point of hock " he will compare favorably 

 with the very best, while from the last mentioned point to 

 the ground, the distance is less than any, save Doubloon. 



