FAMOUS ARABIAN HORSES. . 43 



What are the distinguishing marks by which one 

 can tell an Arabian? 



" The pure bred Arab is small, with such fineness 

 of skin that through it the veins can be clearly- 

 traced. The head is small and lean, with bold open 

 nostrils, thin as cardboard. Very broad between 

 the eyes, which are large and soft, and look at you 

 with an expression of human intelligence. Ears 

 small and erect, fine and thin as a kid glove. Mane 

 full and long, not heavy. Tail almost touching 

 the earth when standing, but lifted out when in 

 motion, and waving to and fro like an ostrich plume. 

 Thighs, fore and hind, immense. The frontal bone 

 below the knees very slender and round like a finger 

 when viewed from the front ; from the side it appears 

 wide and muscular. Hoofs very small, hard, and pol- 

 ished. Height from fourteen to fifteen hands. 

 Gait an even stretching gallop, which never trem- 

 bles and never tires, sure-footed as a mule, and ten- 

 der-tempered as a baby. " 



Your description is enchanting, but only convinces 

 me that I have never seen a thoroughbred Arab. Is 

 there no more to be told of the Dzigguetai, Count? 



** I had a convincing experience that they can 

 travel from two to three hundred miles, in twefe« 

 consecutive hours, in order to drink from a certain 

 clear cold spring in one of the oasis, and to feed on 

 the dainty nourishing grass there." 



O Count, that seems incredible ! 



" I realize that the statement sounds most exagger- 

 ated, and I myself could hardly believe that flesh and 

 blood could equal the locomotive's speed. I have 



