454 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



existing between post and coach-horns by saying : 

 " The coach-horn is now the only recognised horn 

 used on a four-in-hand coach ; but the post-horn, fifty 

 or sixty years ago, was the recognised signal horn 

 used by all the guards on the fast mail coaches, hence 

 the name post-horn." 



A coach-horn should always be perfecdy straight, 

 and be made of copper, with German silver or real 

 silver mouthpiece and mountings. Lately a telescopic 

 horn has been made, which allows the top half, or 

 rather the mouthpiece end, to slide inside the lower 

 portion of the horn, on the same principle as the 

 portable metal drinking- cups. The tone and ease with 

 which these horns can be blown is not in the least 

 affected by this arrangement. There are many ad- 

 vantages about this plan, as a very long horn may, on 

 this principle, be so telescoped as to occupy a very 

 small space, and is less likely to get bent, dented, or 

 otherwise injured, and is more easily packed and 

 carried about. 



The guard whom I have mentioned says that " a 

 coach-horn should not exceed thirty-six inches in 

 length, or else the peculiar ring or note (musicians 

 would call it the timbre) of the true coach-horn becomes 

 lost, and merges into that more resembling the field- 

 bugle used in the army." And yet many good coach- 

 horns are used measuring forty-six inches in length, 

 and even longer than this ; but such long horns are 

 not always used for show, but because they are easier 

 to blow, not the same notes, but a greater number 

 of notes upon them. 



The habit of calling the coach-horn the "yard 

 of tin " arose from the fact that it really was a yard, or 

 thirty-six inches, of tin, many of the old horns on the 



