602 V ERTEBRATA. 



straight, or even a little concave; the chest is narrow, and the balance is thrown with great 



equality upon both Beta of extremities. But the narrow chest, by means of which the fore-legs 



brought much closer to each other, though essential to a swift-running horse, does not adapt 



iniiual for draught In Arabia, and the other countries where the horse is so much esteemed, 



tin- i- not considered a deficiency, because the animal is not there used for draught, goods being 



conveyed on the backs of camels. The skin of the Arab is very fine, the hair smooth, and the 



form of the muscles and the positions of the veins under the skin very conspicuous. The joints 



particularly well made, and those processes of the bones to which the tendons are attached 



eery prominent, and the joints themselves are generally free from any defect. The limbs are 



ticularly handsome, and have little or no hair on the fetlock. The common height at the 



llder is between thirteen and fourteen hands. The pace of these horses is rapid and graceful; 



they do not perspire much; they lasl a long time; they can continue traveling at the rate of 



from lift) to sixty miles a day; and five or six pounds of dourra, or the barley of their native 



ntry, in the evening, is a sufficient feed for them. When at home in the tent they are fed 



with chopped barley-straw. 



The wind of these borsi - is particularly good, and they can be pushed at their full speed for a 

 ace without injury. They carry their heads, and also their tails, in a very graceful 

 manner. They are divided into ignoble ami noble — the former being doomed to drudge, while 

 tie latter are u>,;\ f.r the saddle, highly esteemed, and much attended to by their owners. They 

 •all the former by a name which means " without pedigree" and the latter by another name, which 

 signifies a pedigree which would be venerated anywhere — "known for two thousand >/cnrs' J The 

 tradition is, that these horse- are descended from the veritable stud of King Solomon, and have 

 not been once crossed or corrupted in the blood since he sat upon the throne in Jerusalem. They 

 are unquestionably noble animals, are held in great esteem, and often are of enormous price. We 

 can understand that among a people so romantic and so poetical in their language as the Arabs the 

 most wonderful storiesshould be told concerning them. "If," says the Arabian story, "you meet one 

 the faithful in the desert, mounted upon a Kochlani, and he shall say 'God bless you,' before 

 yon can say, 'And God's blessing upon you,' he shall be out of your horizon, for the whirlwind 

 toils after him in vain." The same story, however, is told of the camel. 



The utmosl attention is paid to the breeding of these horses, that the} may not be tainted even 



accident. The union always takes place in presence of a witness, who remains twenty days 



ward, to watch the female. The same witness is also present when the colt is cast, and a 



ar certificate is made out within the first seven days. If these circumstances are not attended 



. ind the legitimacy cannot be established by the proper certificate, the marketable value of the 



horse is greatly diminished, whatever may be Ins real qualities. 



In Europe and America particular breeds are chiefly propagated through the male; in Arabia 

 considered that the female best transmits the qualities of a race, and hence the blood of the 

 mare is most scrupulously guarded. 



The interesting qualities of the Arabian horse are attested by numerous writers. Bishop Heber, 



•Narrative," says: "My morning rides are very pleasant. My horse is a nice, quiet, g 1- 



tempered little Arab, who is so fearless that lie goes without starting close to an elephant, and bo 

 gentle and docile that he eats bread out of my hand, and has almost as much attachment and as 

 ring ways as a dog. This seems the general character of the Arab horses, to judge from what 

 I have Been in this country. It is not the fiery, dashing animal I had supposed, but with more 

 rationality about him, and more apparent confidence in his rider, than the majority of English 

 hors< 



The kindness with which this animal is treated from a foal gives him an affection for his 

 master, a wish to please, a pride in exerting every energy in obedience to his command-, and, 

 sequently, an apparent sagacity which Ls seldom seen in other breeds. The mare and her 

 foal inhabit the same tenl with the Bedouin and his children. The neck of the mare is often the 

 pillow of the rider, and, more frequently of the children, who are rolling about upon her and the 

 foal ; yet no accident ever occurs, and the animal acquires that friendship and love for man which 

 nal ill-treatment will not cause him for a moment to forget. 



