Present Varieties of the Horse. 15 



duced the Arabian blood, and Charles II. laying the 

 foundation ot our present breeds by importing several 

 mares (ealled Royal Mares, from their master), to which 

 may be traced the celebrated horses of the latter end of 

 the last century, and some of our best modern breeds. 

 Numerous Eastern horses were also imported at various 

 times. 



The Origin of the Thoroughbred Horse, accord- 

 ing to Stonehenge, is as follows : — 1. Native mares bred 

 from Spanish strains, probably descended from Morocco 

 Barbs. 2. Markham's Arabian. 3. Place's White Turk, 

 an ancestor of Matchem. 4. Three Turks imported 

 about 1684; and 5. The Royal Mares of Charles the 

 Second. 



By reference to the early pedigrees we are informed 

 that other horses and mares were introduced, viz. : — 

 Alcock's Barb, Morocco Barb, D'Arcy's Yellow Turk, 

 White D'Arcy Turk, Leeds Arab, Brownlow Arab, 

 Harper's Arab, Pullen's Chesnut Arab, Honey wood's 

 White Arab, Old Bald Peg Arab, and the Arab sire of 

 Makeless, amongst which the D'Arcy Turks were 

 conspicuous. 



The greatest results of the use of Arab and Turkish 

 blood appears to have been evident during the years 

 1748 to 1764, when the following celebrated horses were 

 foaled, viz. : — Matchem, 1748; King Herod, 1758; and 

 Eclipse, 1764. In their wake followed Melbourne, 

 Touchstone, Bay Middleton, and others, all of which, as 

 shown by the pedigrees, possess the strain of both Arab 

 and Turkish blood through the line of sire and dam in 

 each instance. 



The Thoroughbred horse is intended for racing 

 only. — The height of the race-horse varies from 15 hands 

 to 16 J hands, or even 17 hands; but the general height 

 of our best horses is about 15 hands 3 inches. Few first- 

 class performers have exceeded the height of Surplice, 

 who was 16 hands 1 inch, as were also Wild Dayrell and 

 Stockwell. Sir Tatton Sykes was 15J hands; and be- 

 tween his height and that of Surplice may be ranged every 

 great winner for the last ten or twelve years. This average, 



