38 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



kept up in the stable for some time, and turned out 

 into a field where there was a pump well supplied 

 with water, regularly obtained a quantity therefrom 

 by his own dexterity. For this purpose, the animal 

 was observed to take the handle into his mouth, and 

 work it with his head, in a way exactly similar to 

 that done by the hand of man, until a sufficiency was 

 procured. 



The force of habit is particularly strong in the 

 old hunter and in the war-horse. The Tyrolese, 

 irt one of their insurrections in 1809, took fifteen 

 Bavarian horses, and mounted them with fifteen of 

 their own men ; but in a skirmish with a squadron of 

 the same regiment, no sooner did these horses hear 

 the trumpet and recognize the uniform of their old 

 masters, than they set off at full gallop, and carried 

 their riders, in spite of all their efforts, into the 

 Bavarian ranks, where they were made prisoners. 

 But inveterate habits are contracted in peace as well 

 as in war, domi mililiaque, a truth which was curiously 

 exemplified in a case that fell under our own observa- 

 tion. Some ladies of our acquaintance in Essex 

 bought a very respectable, middle aged, black-coated 

 horse, to draw their four-wheeled open chaise, driven 

 by their own fair hands. At first they were greatly 

 pleased with their bargain ; the horse was as strong 

 as an elephant, as gentle as a lamb, and as sedate as 

 a parish clerk. But he soon gave proof of very 



