CHAP. 1.] ECLIPSE — MAKE OF SHOULDER. 39 



ance : but this was compensated for by the fine form 

 of his hind quarter, which, being particularly strong 

 and muscular, threw his body forward at every leap 

 in despite of his low fore quarters, — for running is no 

 other than the leap reiterated. One leading charac- 

 teristic, however, denoted all three horses to be of the 

 right stamp in the main : they stood even on their leg 

 bones and the soles of their feet ; that is to say, 

 straight up and down, nearly, from the elbow 

 [N. 15.] to the ground before, and from the stifle- 

 joint [N. 30, and 34.] to the ground behind, re- 

 spectively; both those parts, viewed sideways in 

 the plate, being placed nearly horizontal, as regards 

 each other, on the line [N], 



But " the shoulder of Eclipse was a low one," 

 say the published accounts of him ; yet, as this de- 

 fect, real or supposed, consisted in the inclination 

 of the humerus, or shoulder-bone [K to N] above 

 the elbow, by reason of the great freedom of the 

 muscles which held it and the scapida, or shoulder- 

 blade in position, he would, when stepping out 

 with the fore leg, rise higher than when he stood 

 still ; a particularity that is reversed in horses 

 whose shoulder-blades are set on mOre nearly up- 

 right than those of Eclipse were. This accounts 

 for the vaulting manner he had, as we read in the 

 accounts of his exploits; and his running grey- 

 hound fashion, with his chest close to the ground, 

 for he would thereby keep off the ground longer 

 betwixt each leap, until the impetus received from 

 his hind legs was nearer spent than it would have 



