NATURAL HISTORY. 1C3 



The Arabian Horse is a model of elegance and beauty. 

 The Arab treats his horse as one of his family : it lives in the 

 same tent with him, eats from his hand, and sleeps among 

 his children, who tumble about on it without the least fear. 

 Few Arabs can be induced to part with a favourite horse. 

 The Rev. V. Monro relates that an Arab, "the net value of 

 whose dress and accoutrements might be calculated at some- 

 thing under seventeen pence halfpenny," refused all oilers 

 made to purchase a beautiful mare on. which he rode, and 

 declared that he loved the animal better than his own life. 



The plains of La Plata and Paraguay are tenanted by vast 

 herds of wild horses. These are captured by the lasso, bitted, 

 mounted, and broken, within an hour, by the daring and 

 skilful Gauchos. 



The ponderous and powerful dray-horse is of the Flanders 

 breed. These huge animals, as they slowly pace along the 

 streets, conducted by men who seern to be a Flanders race also, 

 never fail to attract the attention of admiring foreigners. 



Wales and the Shetland Isles produce a breed forming a 

 great contrast to the Flanders horse. The Sheltie, as it is 

 called, is very small, its height sometimes being only thirty- 

 four inches ; but it is very strong and sure-footed, carrying its 

 rider with perfect safety along the most terrific precipices, 

 and almost invariably choosing to walk on the very edge. 



The Race Horse is supposed to have been originally derived 

 from the Arabian breed. The Godolphin Arabian, and the 

 Flying Childers, are two of the most celebrated racers. The 

 skeleton of Eclipse, another celebrated racer, is now in the 

 Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. 



THE ASS. 



The humble and hardy Ass is scarcely less serviceable to 

 man than the more imposing horse. In this country, where 

 it meets with harsh treatment, is scantily fed, and only used 

 for laborious tasks, it is dull and obstinate ; but in the East, 

 where it is employed by the rich nobles and is properly treated, 

 it is an elegant and spirited animal, with good action and 

 smooth coat. "White asses are always used in the East for the 



