154 



THE HORSE. 



ligament of the neck, and four irregular plates or processes from the sides, 

 for the attachment of muscles ; at the base of one of which, on either side, 

 are holes for the passage of large arteries and veins. At the upper end of 

 each, is a round head or ball, and at the lower end, a cavity or cup, and 

 the head of the one being received into the cup of the other, they are 

 united together, forming so many joints. They are likewise joined toge- 

 ther by ligaments from these processes, as well as the proper ligaments of 

 the joints, and so securely, that no dislocation can take place between any 

 of them, except the first and second, the consequence of which would be 

 the immediate death of the animal. 



The last, or seventh bone, has the elevation on the back or top of it con- 

 tinued into a long and sharp prolongation (a spinom process) ; and is the 

 beginning of that ridge of bones denominated the withers (see cut, p. 63) ; 

 and as it is the base of the column of neck-bones, and there must be great 

 pressure on it from the weight of the head and neck, it is curiously con- 

 trived to rest upon and unite with the two first ribs, which also we shall 

 presently describe as being very peculiarly and strongly constructed. 



THE BIUSCLES AND PROPER FORM OF THE NECK. 



The bones which we have just mentioned serve as the frame-work to which 

 are attached numerous muscles concerned in all the motions of the head 

 and neck. The power of the ligament of the neck is precisely adapted to 

 the weight of the head and neck. They are supported by it, without mus- 

 cular aid, and without fatigue to the animal ; but to raise the head higher, 

 or to lower it, or to turn it in every direction, a complicated system of 

 muscles was necessary. Those, whose office it is to raise the head, are most 

 numerous and powerful, and are placed on the upper and side part of the 

 neck. Our cut, p. 119, gives a few of them. 



c marks a tendon common to two of the most important of them, the 

 splenius, or splint-like muscle, and the compleocus major, or larger compli- 

 cated muscle. The splenius constitutes the principal bulk of the neck 

 above, arising from the ligament of the neck all the way down it, and 



going to the processes of all the 

 bones of the neck, but the first, 

 and flat tendons running from 

 the upper part of it, to the first 

 bone of the neck, and to a pro- 

 cess of the temporal bone of the 

 head. Its action is sufficiently 

 evident, namely, very powerfully 

 ^^^^^;^^''WM'i'llHf to elevate the head and neck. 



The principal beauty of the neck 

 depends on this muscle. It was 

 admirably developed in the 

 '.^// wjmi horse of whose neck the an- 



/MvL. yi^mf iiexed cut gives an accurate de- 



lineation. 



If the curve were quite regu- 

 lar from the poll to the withers, 

 we should call it a perfect neck. 

 It is rather a long neck, and 

 we do not like it the less for 



