EXTERNAL CONFORMATION. 253 



Ao-ain, it is often asserted, and with positiveness, that 

 white leo^s are predisposed to cracks and grease Even 

 thouo-h we very often see white heels cracked, I do not 

 see the necessary connexion between the disease and the 

 c(^]our ; and it is thus easily explained : not that the leg 

 is weaker, but that its colour exposes it to be weakened 

 \A''hite legs being easily stained, from the desire to keep 

 tliem clean, are more frequently washed ; and by careless 

 gi'ooms the legs are often left to dry of themselves : the 

 evaporation from a wet surface produces cold, and the 

 repetition of the practice ultimately repels the secretion 

 of the greasy matter necessary to keep a part of so much 

 motion, soft and pliable, and inflammation and cracks ar« 

 the result; the same may be observed of white hoofs, thb 

 frequent wettings rendering the horn hard and brittle. 



The Greys, of which there are several varieties, the sil- 

 ver, iron, dappled, and flea-bitten, by many are valued 

 on account of their beauty ; but during the moulting season 

 they are objectionable, as saddle horses, from soiling their 

 riders' clothes. 



The dappled grey is a gi'eat favourite, the darker the bet- 

 ter, as he retains his colour the longest of the greys ; and 

 from being favourites, they have been improved more than 

 any other varieties, by the addition of better blood. » 



The piebald is rarely liked as hackneys, though in a phae- 

 ton or light carnage, if well matched, they have a very 

 pretty effect. Of the chesnut there are three varieties, 

 the sorrel, light, and dark ; the light have frequently large 

 intermixtures of white ; and in the coarse breeds the whole 

 face is white, and in all, the legs are apt to be white ; the 

 hghter shades are supposed to be characteristic of debility 

 of constitution. The dark chesnuts are commonly consi- 

 dered as of sound constitution and great endurance, but 

 of hot and fiery tempers, and their feet more prone to 

 contraction than any other colour. 



Of the bays there are various shades, light and dark, 

 torrned bright-bays, yellow-bays, and brown-bays. The 

 dappled-bay is an esteemed colour, and so is the bright 

 bay, if accompanied by a black mane and tail, or a dorsal 

 listing. The dark bays are more esteemed, if, in addition 

 to black manes and tails, their joints and legs are bJack. 

 The bays and browns have of late years been bred with 

 ir.'ich cave, and display a coj>3iderable deal of blood. 



