Present Varieties of the Horse. I I 



Southern Russia, India, and even in Australia. In his 

 native deserts he is still sometimes to be seen in a half- 

 wild state, though most probably owned by some of the 

 " dwellers in tents " peculiar to that region. But it is the 

 more domestic breed with which we have chiefly to do, 

 and which is carefully preserved in a pure state by the 

 chiefs of the various tribes, though it is supposed not so 

 free from stain now as was formerly the case. The head 

 of the Arab is the most beautiful model in nature, giving 

 the idea of courage, tempered with docility and submission 

 to man, better than any other animal, and even more so 

 than the dog. It is seldom, perhaps, that so beautiful a 

 frame exists ; but examples are not wanting of such a 

 union of elegance with perfectly good and useful points. 

 The length and muscularity of the fore-arm are also re- 

 markable, and the setting on of the tail is peculiarly high 

 — points which have generally been transmitted to our 

 thorough -bred horses descended from Arabian blood. 

 Many imported horses of this breed are exceedingly 

 wicked and full of tricks, but in India, as a rule, he is 

 quite the reverse. To the modern sportsman also he is 

 valuable, because he faces the elephant and the tiger 

 better than any other breed. In height he is generally 

 a little under fifteen hands ; and in colour either bay, 

 black, or grey. It is said that there are three distinct 

 breeds of Arabians even now — the Attec/ii, a very superior 

 breed ; the Kadisc/ii, mixed with these, and of little value ; 

 and the Kochhvii, highly prized, and very difficult to pro- 

 cure. If this is true, it may account for the very different 

 results produced by breeding from modern Arabs and 

 those introduced in the eighteenth century. 



The Arab of pure blood is pre-eminent for symmetry 

 and graceful action, being the main source of improve- 

 ment which now marks the English Thoroughbreds. 

 The head is conspicuous for its widlh of forehead, evenly 

 hollowed face, fine muzzle, and width of jaws. The eyes 

 are prominent and lustrous, yet soft and intelligent in 

 expression ; the ear is small, well set and active ; the 

 neck is gracefully arched ; the shoulder is muscular and 

 proportionately oblique; the withers are thin and 



