236 UTILITARIAN ZOOLOGY 



less remote ancestors were dun-coloured. But it is hardly sufficient 

 to say the ancestors were dun-coloured, for in Norway four shades 

 of dun are recognized, which include nearly every colour from 

 white to black. There are (i) white duns (white and light creams) 

 with white mane and tail; (2) yellow duns with black mane and 

 tail, including creams and light bays; (3) elk duns, frequently 

 approaching in hue bays, chestnuts, and browns; and (4) mouse 

 duns, some of which are nearly black. After a full consideration 



Fig. 1171. Arabian Horse 



of the subject, I am inclined to believe the body-colour of the 

 striped ancestral horse of the temperate regions was mainly of a 

 yellowish-brown colour. As the descendants extended their range 

 the ground-colour would change, a sand colour probably prevailing 

 in desert areas, a reddish dun in the vicinity of forests, a mouse 

 dun in the far north, a light tint near the tropics, and in the up- 

 lands a gray or ash tint." There is a marked resemblance between 

 Norwegian ponies and certain Indian breeds, in view of which it 

 is interesting to notice that according to the traditions of Scan- 

 dinavia the horse was introduced into that region from the East 

 by the god Odin. But though the body of evidence is on the 

 whole in favour of the view that Central Asia is the old home of 



