LOCOMOTOR SYSTEM 633 



Fore-step . . 3 feet 5 inches to 4 feet 3 inches. 



Hind-step .. .. 2 „ 11 „ to 3 „ 11 „ 



Spring .. 2 „ 11 „ to 6 „ 2 „ 



Here, again, it was shown that the difference in the length of 

 the stride is not so much the difference in the length of the step 

 as in the distance of the spring. The forward reach, such as the 

 horse is making with the off fore in Fig. 211 (3) is of much the 

 same length in ordinary animals — e.g., 5 feet 5 inches to 6 feet- — 

 though occasionally as much as 6 feet 6 inches. In the race- 

 horse above referred to it is 7 feet 6 inches. It will be observed 

 that both with the race-horse and the ordinary horse the step 

 taken by the fore-legs in the gallop is longer than that taken with 

 the hind-legs. 



Differences between the Canter and Gallop. — In the canter it 

 can be seen thatthe horse makes a big step first with his hind- legs, 

 then with the fore, followed by a spring ; he is only once in the air 

 in each stride. In the gallop the same essential features occur ; 

 but the canter differs from the gallop in being a slower pace : the 

 hind-leg, in order to receive the weight, is not brought well under 

 the body (see Fig. 208, 3), and in consequence the lateral fore-leg has 

 to come to its assistance, to enable the hind to complete its step. 

 There is no such support given with a fore-leg in the gallop. In 

 consequence of the slowness of the canter, one hind-leg has now in 

 turn to help support the body while the fore-legs make their step, 

 and this support is not withdrawn until the one fore-leg is ready 

 to make its spring. No such hind support exists in the gallop during 

 the period the fore-legs are making their step. In the gallop there 

 are never three legs on the ground at one and the same time ; in 

 the canter this occurs twice in a single revolution. 



The conventional gallop shown in pictures is much more pleasant 

 to look at, but wholly incorrect. F. Galton* observed that the two 

 fore-legs in the photographs of the gallop were extended during one 

 quarter of a complete motion, and during another quarter the two 

 hind-legs were similarly extended ; cutting them in halves, and 

 uniting the front half of the former to the hind half of the latter, 

 a fair equivalent of the conventional attitude was obtained. He 

 considered that, owing to the confusion created by the limb move- 

 ments, the brain ignores one half of all it sees, and divides the other 

 half into two parts, each alike in one particular, and then combines 

 the two halves. 



The Gallop of the Dog is rotatory, as Muybridge terms it (Fig. 209.B), 

 and the grey hound gallops differently to a heavy dog. The latter 

 employs the gallop of the horse, excepting that the animal alights on 

 the lateral and not on the diagonal hind-leg ; the opposite hind-leg then 

 comes to the ground, next the fore-leg of that side, then the opposite 

 fore-limb, followed by the spring. The order is, therefore, as follows, 

 assuming the thrust is given with the left fore-leg : left fore, left 

 hind, right hind, right fore. As in the horse, there is a step with 

 the hind followed by a step with the fore legs, then a spring. The 

 movement of the limbs of the grey hound also follows in the order 

 left fore, left hind, right hind, right fore ; but there are two periods 

 of propulsion : first with a fore-leg, which sends the body into the 



* " Memories of My Life," 1908. 



