SLEEPING. 89 



his head on the flank or hock, which is a favourite position 

 with cattle, buffalo and deer, when they have stopped 

 ruminating, and appear to want to go to sleep. They cannot, 

 however, long maintain this position. 



As the suspensory ligament of the neck can support the 

 weight of the head and neck without giving rise to the sensa- 

 tion of fatigue ; a horse can sleep comfortably on his side 

 and breast bone and with his head turned to the opposite 

 side. When a horse is very tired, or even when he feels 

 secure from disturbance, he may sleep entirely on his side, with 

 his cheek resting on the ground. On rare occasions, a horse 

 will repose lying down on his breast bone, with his knees 

 advanced and his heels more or less close to the points of his 

 elbows. This position is considered apt to give rise to 

 " capped elbow," on account of the pressure of the heel of the 

 doubled-up fore leg on the point of the elbow. This is not 

 an easy position for the horse ; for the sharp keel of his breast 

 bone will be liable to be hurt by contact with the ground. It 

 is, however, the natural sleeping position of horned cattle, 

 which can rest at ease in this manner ; as the keel of their 

 breast bone is flat. 



In getting up, the horse straightens his fore legs out to 

 the front, and with a strong effort places his fore feet on the 

 ground and raises his forehand, so as to sit up like a dog. 

 With another effort he raises his hind quarters and stands on 

 all four feet. 



Rearing. — When a horse prepares to rear, he will get 

 his hind feet well under him and will raise his head, so as to 

 "lighten" his forehand, which he will lift off the ground by 

 the straightening out of one or both fore legs, and by the 



