HISTORY. 463 



in the asinine group, the soles of the hoof are oval. He is 

 herbivorous, and delights in the fruits of the gramineous and 

 leguminous plants, as of the oat, the wheat, the maize, the 

 rice, the bean, the pea. He partakes, too, of succulent roots 

 and tubers, and in some cases even will eat of animal food. 

 He prefers soft water, as that of rivers, nay, of standing 

 pools, to the hard water of springs. His stomach is of me- 

 dium size, but the ccecum is very large; and, though he 

 seeks food frequently, he can endure considerable abstinence, 

 but less than the Ass, the Mule, and the Camel. He can 

 rest from fatigue, and enjoy sleep, in the standing posture. 

 At the age of two years he is able to propagate his race ; and 

 at the age of five he has arrived at the full maturity of youth. 

 The male is a more powerful and courageous animal than the 

 female, more ardent in his temper, more difficult of subjuga- 

 tion, but not less attached and generous. His neighing is 

 more loud, sonorous, and frequent, and his action is more 

 noble. When deprived of his virile powers, he approaches 

 more to the character of the female ; and although his 

 strength, ardour, and noble carriage are lessened, he retains 

 enough of these characters to fit him for every service, and 

 becomes more gentle, tractable, and safe. The female goes 

 with young eleven months, but with some variation, beyond 

 the medium term, dependent upon food and temperament. 

 The foal is born with long limbs, which enables it to reach 

 the mammae of the mother. It has considerable strength 

 even at the birth, and is soon able to follow the dam at 

 speed, and learns to take solid food by her side. In the fifth 

 or sixth month it is able to dispense with the milk of the 

 mother, and may be separated from her without injury to its 

 growth. 



The brain of the Horse is small ; but he manifests in a 

 sufficient degree the sagacity which fits him for his condition. 

 His sense of sight is moderately acute, and he has the faculty 

 of seeing well in the dark ; but the deficiency in the sense 

 of touch at his extremities, which are defended by thick horn, 



