BACK AND LOINS. 



back, if we include the loins in this term, see p. 24) may pre- 

 sent, is due, I would submit, chiefly to the following causes : — 



1. The manner in which the croup runs into the loins. 

 For instance, the back and loins will appear short and the 

 croup (or "quarters") long, if the pelvis be more or less 

 horizontal ; the contour of the croup free from angularity ; 

 the muscles over the loins largely developed ; and the flanks 

 well ribbed up. I regret that I have omitted to give among 

 the equine portraits in this book, one of a good specimen of 

 a long-backed horse. My meaning will, however, be under- 

 stood if my readers will compare the line of the croup and 

 loins in the Frontispiece and Pis. 19, ■^:i^, 35 and 55, with 

 that in Pis. 15, 34, 39 and 56. 



2. The distance to which the withers run back. I may 

 point out that the extreme lowness of the withers in the 

 Burchell's zebra (PL 37), the kiang (PL 67), and the onager 

 (PL 66), gives the backs of these animals a false appearance 

 of undue length. The angularity of the contour of Mike's 

 croup [see PL 38) might lead one to form the wrong opinion 

 that he was long in the back and loins, if his withers did not 

 extend so far to the rear as to counteract that impression. 

 The same may be said of Dorothy (PL 39). 



3. The degree of slope of the shoulder and pelvis. It is 

 evident that the greater the angle formed by the respective 

 directions of the shoulder blade and pelvis produced (the 

 more oblique the shoulder and the more horizontal the croup), 

 the shorter will the back and loins appear to be ; and vice 

 versa. 



4. Length of neck. I need hardly say that a long neck 

 (or a "long rein," if we include the withers) will give an air 

 of shortness to the back and loins, and vice versa. 



