96 The English Horse. 



antecedents, if they were ever ascertained (but Bloody- 

 Buttocks and the Leedes Arabian would appear to have 

 been excellent horses — especially the latter), with the 

 single exception of the Darley Arabian, whose history is 

 known, and his family was mentioned, in the account of 

 the line he founded, in a former chapter. And as further 

 reference will be made to that hereafter, I will only add, 

 his memory is still retained among the Arabs ; and I 

 have been informed, horses descended direct from him 

 are still to be met with in Arabia. 



From a review which appeared in 'Bell's Life' a year 

 or two ago on a work entitled, ' Apercu historique sur 

 les Institutions hippiques et les Races chevalines de 

 la Russie, par J. Moerder,' St. Petersburg, 1868, in- 

 ferences may be drawn as to the types of horses past 

 and present, which support the often asserted opinion of 

 the deterioration of the English thorough-bred horse. 

 It was remarked : ' It will be flattering to our country- 

 men to read the following am.ongst other observations : 

 " Nous allons maintcnant passer a I'examen des types 

 de chevaux de haras. La premiere place est occupee 

 par le pur sang arabe et le cheval de course anglais. 

 Ces deux types servent a la formation de toutes nos 

 meilleures especes." ' And again, when speaking farther 

 on of the purity of the blood of English horses, M. 

 Mcerder states : ' Lc cheval anglais, dans sa forme pri- 

 mitive, etait remarquable par sa haute taille, sa belle 

 tete, qu'il tenait du cheval arabe; ses petites oreilles, son 

 cou long et gracieux, son dos court, sa croupe huutc ct 

 droitc, sa queue bicn adaptcc, ses jambcs fortes et bien 



