SECRETARY'S REPORT. 1G5 



and this will frequently happen iu those breeds which have not 

 been long established. The celebrated stallion, Ethan Allen, 

 affords an excellent illustration of this principle. The fact that 

 he was sired by Black Hawk would, probably, never have been 

 disputed, if he himself were black. Now, since his dam was 

 gray, and his famous brother, Redleg, of the same color, with 

 one bay leg, and his grand-sire, Sherman Morgan, chestnut, 

 does the light color of Ethan or his stock furnish any good 

 reason for disbelieving his well established pedigree ? 



Nearly all persons have certain fancies and prejudices respect- 

 ing the colors of horses which are sometimes whimsical enough. 

 For instance, we are told if a horse has 



One white foot, buy lilm ; 



Two white feet, try him ; 



Three white feet, deny him ; 



Foui- white feet and a white nose, 



Strip off his hide and give him to the crows. 



On the other hand, there is a tribe in northern Africa who 

 have a special preference for white-faced, white-stockinged 

 horses ; and there are many persons in New England who con- 

 sider a star in the forehead, or, at least, a white foot, quite 

 indispensable to a fine horse. The English regard black horses 

 as more viciously inclined than others, and esteem this a bad 

 color except in draft horses. We, however, like Black Hawk 

 stock, and look upon this color as an evidence of resemblance 

 to the great progenitor of the breed. Brown horses with tan- 

 colored muzzles and black points, that is, mane, tail and legs, 

 are generally reputed to be unusually tough and serviceable. 

 Dark chestnuts are said to be the most spirited and the most 

 liable to have contracted feet. This is a favorite color for 

 Arabian horses, and also for some branches of the Morgans. 

 Many of the most renowned racers, as Eclipse, Henry, Boston 

 and Fashion have been of this color. By some it is regarded 

 as an exceedingly good sign for a chestnut horse to have one or 

 more small black spots on any part of the body. Others again 

 look with favor upon a few white hairs sprinkled into the coat 

 of a bay or chestnut horse. White, or light gray horses, which 

 always become white as they advance in years, are apt to get 

 stained in the stable ; and black ones show dust and sweat too 



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