104 HORSES. 



feeds on hay, luzerne, trefoil, vetches, oats ; wheat, barley, and 

 oat straw, also agree with him when he gets at the same time, 

 a portion of good hay and grain. 



15. The Horse properly so ca lied is distinguished from other 

 species of this genus by the uniform colour of his robe, and by 

 his tail being ornamented with long hair from its origin. He ex- 

 ceeds them also in height as well as in the beauty of his form. 



16. The Horse, the noble companion of man in war and the 

 labours of the field, the arts and commerce, is the most impor- 

 tant, and most carefully attended of all the animals which we 

 have brought under our control. It is originally from the great 

 plains of central Asia, but is now spread in great numbers 

 throughout almost all parts of the world, and no longer exists in 

 the wild state, except in places where horses, previously domesti- 

 cated, have been left at liberty, as in Tartary and America ; the 

 importation of these animals into the latter country dates only 

 about three hundred years back, and, nevertheless, wild horses 

 exist there in immense numbers. It is asserted that troops con- 

 sisting of more than ten thousand individuals aie occasionally 

 met with. 



17. The Horse may live about thirty years; but when old, he 

 loses nearly all his estimable qualities ; before he attains four or 

 five years, he cannot be mounted or employed in draught; for 

 this reason, it will be perceived, it is very important to be able 

 to ascertain the age of horses ; up to the age of about eight 

 years it may be known with certainty, by the successive changes 

 which occur in the dental system, but beyond this period, there is 

 no positive sign of their age, and they say, they mark no longer, 

 because at that time, the hollows on the surface of their incisors 

 have been effaced. 



18. Horses vary very much from each other in size, the beauty 

 of their form, and in their speed, and several different races are 

 distinguished amongst them. The most celebrated is thetfra6mw, 

 which is small in size but admirable in form, and extremely swift. 

 The English horses owe their good qualities in a great measure 

 to their mixture with the Arabian. In France, there are several 

 races which are more or less prized; the horses of Limousin are 

 most esteemed for the saddle; the Norman race is equally prized, 



15. How is the Hoi se properly so called, distinguished from oilier species 

 of thin gen os ? 



16. Where is the Horse originally from ? Does the Horse exist in a wild 

 state ? 



17. To what age do Horses live? By what means may we ascertain the 

 age of Horses ? 



18. What races of Horses are most esteemed ? 



