32 THE HORSE. 



Observ^e, I do not advocate a chest as thin as a lath ; 

 I must have it big every way, but with the relative 

 proportions mentioned. If it follows this develop- 

 ment, the elevation of the ribs will form a most enor- 

 mous cavity for accommodating the highly-elastic and 

 widely-distending lungs, during the period of a rapid 

 and deep inspiration. This is exactly the shape of the 

 chest in that model of beauty, the gi'eyhound ; and 

 where is the animal of the same size could go the 

 pace and keep up the steam with him ? A well-formed 

 greyhound is one of the most beautiful and interesting 

 pieces of machinery in natm-e. 



As the parieties of the chest are nearly fixed above, 

 and not very free below, how does it come that the 

 ribs, most of which are attached at both ends, can 

 move with freedom ? They might have a trifling mo- 

 tion from below ; but they certainly could not have a 

 sufficiently extensive range of action, were it not for a 

 peculiar and most beautiful contrivance, by which they 

 are permitted to have a sort of lateral elevation on 

 the side from behind forwards towards the shoulder. 

 Their power in altering the shape of the chest is chiefly 

 owdng to the peculiarity of this an-angement ; but as 

 I could not explain it satisfactorily, unless it was illus- 

 trated by a practical examination of the parts on the 

 dead subject, I will not enter farther upon it in this 

 place. 



The breadth of the chest may be estimated by the 



