THE FORE-LEG. 53 



skin, sinew, and ligament. There are no muscles at- 

 tached to it, and, consequently, it acts merely as a 

 lever for the support and propulsion of the machine. 

 I have already alluded to the en-oneous opinion which 

 connects the idea of strength in the entire limb with 

 the thickness of the bone under the knee. I might 

 even go farther, and assert that a moderate-sized 

 shank-bone is the best, provided its extremities are 

 sufficiently expanded for the attachment of ligaments. 

 Large muscles and moderate-sized bones are a sure 

 indication of an active temperament, and vice versa. 

 The tissue of the small bone is dense and firm, whereas 

 in the large one it is light and spongy. Does any per- 

 son ever think of comparing the ideas which he enter- 

 tains regarding the proper size and proportion of the 

 leg in the man and the horse ? Ai'e large bones im- 

 mediately above the ankle and wrist-joints ever taken 

 as indications of the strength and mettle of the man ? 

 Certainly not. They are generally found largest in 

 men of soft, flabby constitutions. Let any person take 

 a look at the likeness of some of the pugilistic cham- 

 pions of England, and he will certainly admire the 

 smallness of his bones, when compared with the enor- 

 mous muscles of his legs and arms. Has it not always 

 been thought a point of great beauty, that the bone 

 above the ankle-joint should be small, and the ball of 

 the leg large ? And is not this conformation generally 

 found in persons of tight, wiry, active, and indomita- 



