,-,[,, VERTEBRATA. 



It ia obi ions, from these facts, thai animals of a substantia] and steady character are those most 

 lomand among as. From the general ose of lighl wagons, however, the Trotting-Horse, 

 adapted to the whirling of these with swiftness over the road, has become a matter of fancy among 

 Mid animals of this kind take Bomewhat the Bame place on the American turf as the race-ho 



the turfofGrcal Britain. The American Trotting-Horse has in feci acquired a European 

 reputation, and the Trotting-Match has been transplanted tV.nn this country to England, France, 

 and some other foreign countries. The names of celebrated American trotters arc altogether too 

 numerous to mention. In the published list of winners for the year 1856 alone, we find no less 

 than four hundred! Thai year Lady Flora trotted a mile in two minutes twenty-four and « 

 quart* r seconds, w hich is the best time on record. This celebrated animal won thirty-nine ra < - 

 in >i\ j ears, losing eighl ; her winnings amounted in all to &4G,850. A mile under two minuti a 

 and forty seconds is considered good trotting. Tacony has done it in two twenty-five and a halt'; 

 'k in two twenty-six and a halt'; Aggy Down in two twenty-seven, and General Tay~ 

 lor also in two twenty-seven. In L841 Fanny Jenks did ten miles in twenty-nine minutes fifty* 

 nine second-; in 1846 Fanny Murray did one hundred miles in nine hours, forty-one minutes, 

 twenty-six seconds; in 1850 A'"/' 1 did one hundred miles in nine hours forty-five minutes. 



have we been altogether without noted examples of excellence in the race-horse. In May, 

 1828, three heats of four mil.- each were run over the Onion Course, on Long Island, for a stake 

 twenty thousand dollars, by American Eclipse and Sir Henri/. The former was regarded as 

 representing the North and the latter the South. The fame of the horses, and the local pride 

 elicited l>v the nature of the competition, drew an immense number of spectators — sixty thousand 

 at li ast, [ndeed, the match excited a sort of national feeling, and the result was looked for not 

 by sportsmen only, but by the great mass of the American public, with an impatient interest. 

 We have only space for a single extract from the description of this renowned race by an eye- 

 witness. It relates to the second heat: 



"The horses, after a lapse of thirty minutes, were called up for a second heat. I attentively 

 viewed Eclipse while saddling, and was surprised to find that, to appearance, he had not only en- 

 tirely recovered, but seemed full of mettle, lashing and reaching out with his hind-feet, anxious 

 and impatient to renew the contest. Mr. l'urdy, having mounted his favorite, was perfectly at 

 home and self-confident. The signal being again given, he went off rapidly from the start; Sir 

 !!■ nry being now entitled to the inside, took the track and kept the lead, followed closely by 



. whom Mr. Purdy at once brought to his work, knowing that game and stoutness was bis 

 play, and his only chance of success that of driving his speedy adversary up to the top of his rate 

 without giving him the least respite. Henry went steadily on, nearly to the top of his speed, 

 keeping a gap open between himself and Eclipse of about seven-eighths, or until, toward the eon- 

 ion of the third mile, they had arrived nearly opposite the four-mile distance-post. Here Mr. 

 Purdy mad.- his run, and when they had advanced forty yards further, which brought them to 

 the end of the third mile, was close up, say nose and tail. They now entered upon the fourth 



and last mile, which i nces with a turn or sweep the moment you leave the starting-posti 



Ibre the crowd was immense. I was at this moment on horseback, stationed down the stretch 



or straight run. a shorl distai below the winning-post, in company with a friend, J. Buckley, 



tie- jockey, who k t.> me during the whole race. We pushed out into the center, or 



■i space of the --round, in orderto obtain a more distinct view of the struggle which we saw 



making for the lead ; every thing depended upon this effort of Purdy ; well he knew it; his case 



was a desperate one and required a desperate attempt; it was to risk all for all; he did not hesi- 



Wnen the horses had gol about one-third of the way round the sweep, they had so far 

 cleared the crowd a- to afford us a distinct view of them a little before they reached the center 

 of the turn ; Eclipse had lapped Henry about head and girth, and appeared evidently in the act 

 ofp Here Buckley vociferated, 'See Eclipse! look at l'urdy! l>y heavens, on the inside!' 



I was all attention, l'urdy was at the left hand or inside of Henry ; I felt alarmed for the con- 

 . satisfied that he had then hazarded all, and feared that Walden would take advantage 

 <>f his position, and by running in, force him against or inside one of the poles." When they bad 

 proceeded a little more than half-way r<>und the sweep, the horses were a dead lap; when about 



