VERTEBRATA. 



And foot thai iron never shod, 

 And Banks anscarred by spur or rod — 

 A thousand here the wild, the free — 

 Like waves Unit t> >1 !• -\\ e'er the sea" — 



ia one of the most noble and inspiring scenes presented by the animal creation. 



I South America the wild horses are captured with the lasso by the Indians and Guachos, and 



days are completely broken to the saddle. The same process is adopted in Northern 



\|, .] in the adjacent territories of the United States. These horses, thus subjected to the 



of man, are exceedingly serviceable; though generally of small size, they are peculiarly hardy 



powerful. Those called Indian Pontes,which are occasionally brought to the Eastern States, 



though far from being handsome, are remarkable for endurance, performing an almost incredible 



amount of labor with moderate tare. 



The animals thus civilized are, however, very apt to retain a streak of their native savage- 

 < ■ ftsionally a number of them will be seized with a sudden frenzy, such, no doubt, as is 

 imon, and perhaps habitual and constitutional among the wild herds which are often attacked 

 irnivorons leasts, orassailed by fiercer and more dangerous enemies — the Indian hunters. A 

 • • rt, which is not uncommon among the caravans of traders and travelers, who trav- 



iQthwestern deserts with large numbers of horses and mules, is called a stampede. 

 Under the influence of one of these paroxysms, all the horses in the troop, and even the mules 

 and oxen, are seized with an uncontrollable madness, and bursting away, spread mischief and con- 

 fusion on every side. Most frequently these events take place at night, the darkness of course 

 adding to the turmoil and terror of the scene. Often a traveling party is stopped for several days 

 by one <•( these incidents, it being a matter of great labor to overtake and bring back the scat- 

 tered animals to their duty. 



DOMESTIC BREEDS. 



■ has been in the United States an earnest endeavor, within the last fifty years, to improve 

 the breeds of our liof-es, the same methods being generally followed as in England. But it is ob- 

 vious that the difference of our habits and situation, in several respects, from those of the people 

 of England, must lead to a difference of wants, and consequently to the cultivation of peculiar 

 trses. In England there is a large number of persons — and those of the highest social 

 ition — who interest themselves in the race-course and the chase, and wdio bestow a large part 

 their time and money in these pursuits. Hence the Racer or Thoroughbred, and the Ilm/to; 

 which i> nearly a thoroughbred, stand at the very head of the species, not merely because they 

 of the finest blood, but because they are actively demanded for actual use. In our country 

 Is are interesting to comparatively few, and these chiefly known by the name of " sport- 

 characters," exercising little influence beyond their own limited circle. "The uses to which 

 sold in the principal markets of our country are put," says a well-informed writer,* 



i - s valuable and interesting "Essay on Morgan Horses." From that work we extract the following re- 



■i the different uses of the horse in different parts of our country, as well as the different kinds employed : 



"Tin- i- found chiefly in the Middle States, but is nut as often met with now as formerly. He is 



■ii early importations from Flanders and Denmark : he is inclined to be too long in the leg, ton light in 



I. and too dull in his pa< es. His quarters and shoulders are generally good, and when his body is found 



sufficiently deep he makes a llent draught-horse ; he is often over seventeen hands high. 



"The is found in perfection in many <>f the states, but is bred chiefly at the South. In i 



oftl great majority of the horses in ordinary use possess traces of racing blood. 



found chiefly in Canada, and is undoubtedly of Norman-French descent, and to this day 

 . in a high degri e, the distinguishing traits of the stock from which they sprang. There are many \a- 

 ime having been crossed with the English thoroughbred. They have maintained the good qualities of their 

 -. but have leas Bize, probably owing in a great measure to the rigor of the climate and their scanty fare. 

 • dingly hardy, easily kept, are long lived, and perfectly gentle and docile. Some of them are eelebro- 

 bul as a bleed they are not <rood roadsters. 

 "TheiRirj breed long celebrated in Rhode Island, but now nearly extinct, is said to have de- 



ded in part from a hoi ted by <!o\ ernor Robinson from Andalusia, in Spain. They were noted for their 



nnder tl docility, and powers of endurance. They were small and not well adapted for draught. 



been extensively bred in ibis country, but a few fine animals have been imported, 

 sually full sixteen hands high, compact and muscular, and though not adapted to high speed with 

 I is believed they are unrivaled in their powers of endurance, carrying a great-weight at the rate 

 ■ miles per hour. 



