7C ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 



affected chiefly Barbs and Turks. !Maiiy of his wealthier subjects engaged 

 in like enterprise on their own private account. 



But the most marked improvement of English stock followed the 

 introduction into that country of the Darley Arabian, a fine and vigorous 

 rtall'iou imported during the latter jiart of Queen Anne's reign by one 

 Mr. Darley. Several horses of great repute descended from him, of 

 ivhich the most noted were Almanzer, Fljdng Childers, and Bartlett's 

 Childers ; and from the Childers, besides numerous others, of more or* 

 less celebrity, Childers, Blaze, Samson, Snap, and Eclipse deserve special 

 mention. Of the last named, it is recorded that though he was thick- 

 winded or what is termed a "roarer," he never lost a race and never 

 paid a forfeit ; and that three hundred and thirty-four of his descendants 

 proved to be winning horses. 



During the reign of Louis XIV., of France, and when the Ai-abian 

 stock, the descendants of the Darley, were already in high repute, a horse 

 called the Godolphin Arabian, but which was really a beautiful Barb, of 

 excellent spirit and action, was rescued by one Mr. Coke from the igno' 

 ble employment of drawing a cart in the streets of Paris, (where his 

 striking characteristics seem to have been wholly overlooked), and carried 

 to England. He is said to have been about fifteen hands high, of abro^vn 

 color, and to have been distinguished by the height of his crest and for 

 round and drooping quarters. From him is descended much of the finest 

 racing blood in England. 



We have spoken of the thorough-bred as a pure-blooded horse ; 

 and though this ought doubtless to be understood with some limitations, 

 as even in the best of the stock there is probably some tinge of old Eng- 

 lish and Spanish blood ; yet, such has been the great care bestowed upou 

 him that he is regarded as ' ' the eastern horse brought to the very highest 

 state of perfection." It is certain that, as previously remarked, he is in 

 some respects superior to the best of the original breeds. This has been 

 brought about by long continued careful attention to breeding, to feed- 

 ing, to all those points, in fact, necessary to the elimination of vicious 

 strains and the preservation and improvement of those qualities that tend 

 to the one great end in view — fleetness, with a corresponding power of 

 endurance. The climate of England is said to be peculiarly favorable to 

 the horse ; and this influence has perhaps contributed something to the 

 making of the English racer a pre-eminently fine and much admired 

 animal. The following may be regarded as his distinguishing points : 



His chest is his one and only mark of superior strength ; this is wide 

 and deep. His body is round, his flanks and belly light. His ears ar« 

 fine ; his eyes prominent ; his nostrils are wide ; his lips are small and 

 thic, while he is remarkably wide between the jaws. He has a long and 



