DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



I. 



THE HORSE, 



A horse ! a horse ! My kingdom for a horse ! Shakspeare. 



I.-HISTOKY. 



HE horse is probably a native of the warm coun- 

 tries of the East, where he is found wild in a 

 considerable state of perfection. Its use, both 

 as a beast of burden and for the purposes of war, 

 early attracted the attention of mankind. Thus 

 when Joseph proceeded with his father's body from Egypt into 

 Canaan, "there accompanied him both chariots and horsemen" 

 (Gen. xix.) ; and the Canaanites are said to have gone out to fight 

 against Israel " with many horses and chariots" (Joshua ii. 4). 

 This was more than sixteen hundred years before Christ. 



The horse was early employed on the course. In the year 

 1450 B. o. the Olympic games were established in Greece, at 

 which horses were used in chariot and other races. 



No horses were found either on the continent or on the 

 islands of the New World ; but the immense droves now ex- 

 isting in parts of both North and South America, all of which 

 have descended from the two or three mares and stallions left 

 by the early Spanish voyagers, prove very clearly that the 

 climate and soil of tfhese countries is well adapted to their 

 propagation. 



Professor Low says : " The horse is seen to be affected in his 

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