WILD PONIES OF THE PLAINS 



plex. As the land grew high and dry it be- 

 came necessary for the animal to develop more 

 speed. The toes that had been so essential to 

 keep its owner from sinking into the soft earth 

 had now, through the demand made by its chang- 

 ing environment, diminished from four to three 

 in number. Then gradually they merged into 

 one solid toe or hoof, the most perfect con- 

 struction for speed possessed by an animal. 

 While the little Professor talked he succeeded in 

 unearthing a fossil horse's tooth that was deeply 

 imbedded in the alkali waste. 



The band of wild ponies circled around and 

 were now seen looking in their direction from a 

 distant hill. The Professor looked at the 

 grand exhibition of wild life, then he turned 

 to Long Bob and his companion and said, 

 "We have no proof that the ancient horse 

 lived at the same time with early man in North 

 America, bul there are those who believe, from 

 the many seemingly fresh remains, that the 

 horse might have lived in his present wild state 

 on the plains at the time of the first visit to the 

 country by the Spaniards." " But/' added the 

 Professor, as they were about to leave him with 

 [95] 



