THE COATS. 775 



B. Composite Coats. 



We will call composite coats all those which are formed by two 

 distinct kinds of hair, the one yellow, red, or gray, for the body, the 

 other always black, for the mane, tail, and extremities. 



They comprise the Isabella, the bay, and the mouse-color. 



1st. The Isabella or Isabella coat is characterized by hairs 

 of two distinct colors : those of the body are yellow or yellowish ; 

 those of the extremities, from the knee and the hock down, as well as 

 the mane and tail, are black. This color of the horse is also called 

 the dun. 



According to its shade, it is light, ordinary, and dark. 



It is common, but not invariable, to find a narrow, longitudinal 

 black stripe (mule stripe) upon the median line of the back, the 

 loins, and the croup of Isabella horses, as well as blackish stripes 

 across their forearms and legs (zebra stripes) ; their ears are also often 

 bordered by a band of dark hairs. Although these peculiarities 

 undoubtedly modify the aspect of the coat, they do not change its 

 nature. The essential characteristics necessary to identify this coat are 

 the yellow hairs and black mane and tail or black extremities. When 

 the mule stripe, the zebra stripes, or the auricular border exist, we 

 simply mention their presence, for these markings may at times be 

 found upon bay, sorrel, and mouse-colored horses. 



This distinction, already accepted by several veterinary writers, has 

 the advantage of clearly distinguishing the Isabella from the cream- 

 color, whose hairs are often very analogous in color to the pre- 

 ceding. Hence the variety of Isabella with black mane and tail is no 

 longer preserved as a definition ; as to that which was formerly desig- 

 nated Isabella with white mane and tail, we could not admit it either. 

 When the extremities are of the same color as the body, the animal 

 should be considered as being a cream-colored sorrel. It will be 

 remarked that here we consider the white or washed mane and tail as 

 a peculiarity and not as a variety. 



It would perhaps have been more simple, more natural, and more 

 logical to classify the Isabella among the bays, to some of which it 

 often bears a striking resemblance, and to make it a bay Isabella, in 

 accordance with the principle which has guided us for the cream-color 

 in relation to the sorrel. Nevertheless, with all due respect to tradi- 

 tions and technical language, we have preferred to allow our idea to be 

 matured by time before proposing its absolute introduction into practice. 



