388 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK in. 



to everyone who witnesses his performances in the crowded streets of 

 the metropolis. 



THE CLYDESDALE race are strong, active, hardy animals, remarkably 

 steady, true pullers, usually of sound constitution, and well adapted 

 for all the purposes of husbandry ; indeed, for the work of the farm, 

 they cannot be surpassed. They are, therefore, deservedly in esteem 

 among the northern farmers, particularly on heavy soils. They some- 

 times show a tendency to length of limb and lightness of body, but, 

 apart from this, they are valuable farm-horses, and will work with 

 more strength and continuance than almost any other kind. They 

 are said to have descended from a cross, made by one of the Dukes of 

 Hamilton, between some Flemish stallions, imported many years ago, 

 and some Lanarkshire mares, and they derive their appellation from 

 the valley of the Clyde where they are chiefly found. The story of their 

 origin is, however, denied by a very intelligent writer on the subject, 1 

 who considers them an improved breed of the old Lanark race. 



The Clydesdale Stud-Book (retrospective volume) contains a full 

 account of the history of the Clydesdale breed, together with a descrip- 

 tion of its characteristic features and points, from which we take the 

 following details : 



The head of the typical Clydesdale (figs. 86 and 87) is furnished 

 with a broad jaw, ending, as a rule, in a not very fine or well- tapered 

 muzzle, but with large open nostrils. His eye is usually full and 

 vigorous, yet mild ; his forehead broad and full between the eyes ; 

 while from the eyes the forehead tapers gradually upwards to the ears, 

 which are long and active. Breeders of Clydesdales should attach 

 considerable importance to these points, as a horse of such a descrip- 

 tion will generally be found to be of excellent temper, easily trained, 

 docile, and very wise in cart or plough. 



The neck should be strong, massive, and of medium height ; while 

 the shoulder should be more oblique than in the English draught- 

 horse. This, indeed, is one of the distinctive features of the Clydes- 

 dale, as to his formation of shoulder is largely due his long, quick 

 step, for which he is so justly admired. The "upright" shoulder 

 of the English cart-horse may certainly give greater power in the 

 collar ; but if shortness and slowness of step be considered this cannot 

 be called an advantage. The English horse, besides, is more accus- 

 tomed to sheer dragging and to working in chains, while his Scottish 

 rival is chiefly employed in the two-wheeled cart, which occasions a 

 considerable amount of weight being balanced on the animal's back. 

 A medium-slanted shoulder gives a horse, in such circumstances, an 

 advantage ; and doubtless those who carted the minerals of Lanarkshire 

 in a?ite-railroad days found this formation well-adapted for their pur- 

 poses. Even yet no one will affirm that it is unsuited to the traffic of 

 the day, if he will only take the opportunity offered for forming an 

 opinion by the sij/ht cf the Clydesdale horses yoked to a cart or lorry 

 in the streets of Glasgow. 



1 Mr. William Aiton 



