90 THE HUNTER. 



is small, but of a dense and perfect texture, and in 

 which three convexities can be very plainly distin- 

 guished — namely, the bone ; the elastic ligament 

 behind the bone, called the sinew; and, behind 

 that, the flexor tendojis, large^ rounds and strong. 

 The rare combination of strength with lightness is 

 here beautifully displayed, and is one of the many 

 instances which might be produced, to show how 

 Nature delights to work with the least possible 

 expense of materials. 



The hunter should have length in his shoulders 

 and quarters, and, to a certain extent, also in his 

 back. It is true that horses with short backs carry 

 weight best up a steep hill, which, as that is the 

 worst method in which this animal can employ liis 

 strength (in man it is the best,) shows that heavy 

 men should ride short-backed horses. For hunters, 

 however, that are ridden in our best hunting coun- 

 tries, which, previously to being laid down in grass, 

 were thrown up by the plough into high ridges, 

 with deep furrows, must have moderate length of 

 back, or they cannot go smoothly over such ground. 

 Good loins, with width of haunch (the tis a tergo 

 being so necessary in leaping, as well as gallopping 

 on soft ground,) need scarcely be insisted upon ; 

 and we now proceed to the hinder-legs, the proper 

 or improper form of which makes the difference 

 between a good or bad hunter, if a horse with badly 

 formed hinder-legs can be called a hunter at all. 

 But a horse with short, straight, and weak thighs, 

 cannot make a good hunter. Even admitting that 

 they are not weak, but short and straight, yet the 



