COLOUR. 65 



subordinate to their general utility, and they please 

 us in proportion to their aptitude to unite these 

 two objects. We admire the elegant make of a 

 swan, but the pleasure is doubled when we behold 

 the ease and dignity of its motion. The colours, 

 however, which Nature has bestowed with such 

 profusion upon the surface of some of these animals, 

 birds in particular, exhibit beauties independent of 

 aptitude, and could only have been intended for 

 their adornment. The prevailing colour of the 

 thorough-bred horse is peculiarly elegant and 

 chaste, being a bright bay, with black mane and 

 tail, and black legs to correspond, although occa- 

 sionally relieved with a small white star on the 

 forehead, or a white heel of the leg. It is remark- 

 able, that what may be termed vulgar colours, such 

 as light sorrel, or dun, or brown with mealy muzzle, 

 are very seldom met with in the thorough-bred 

 liorse ; and we know but one instance of the pie- 

 bald, and very few roans.* Black is not common 

 nor approved of, although several of our best racers, 

 almost all the Trumpator blood, have been of that 

 colour, Smolensko amongst them. The real chest- 

 nut prevails a good deal, and is quite equal to the 

 bay in the richness and brightness of its hues. 

 Such was the colour of Eclipse, and, as is the case 

 with game-fowls, in the breeding of which there 

 are instances of a reversion to the original colour, 

 after fifteen descents, it is not uncommon for 

 thorough-bred stock to be chestnuts, although got 

 by a bay stallion out of a bay mare, or from sire 



* See The Cocker, by W. Sketchlet, Gent. Lond. 1814. 



