REMARKABLE ADAPTATION OF HORSES. 37 



interesting statements of facts, proving the truth of these 

 assertions, have been made to me by farmers and breeders 

 at different times, after attending my lectures, to such 

 causes of possible derangement, and which it is essential to 

 guard against. 



REMARKABLE ADAPTATION OF HORSES FOR 

 DIFFERENT USES. 



Marked extremes and modifications of size, disposition 

 and character, show fixed laws of adaptation. We see this 

 is not only true in the adaptation of different classes of 

 domestic animals for special uses, but even in those of the 

 same family. Thus 



THE ESQUIMAUX 



have not only a dog, but a dog of peculiar nature, exactly 

 adapted to their wants. No other domestic animal could 

 endure the intense cold of that region, or could live so far 

 North with man, and this dog must and does perform the 

 different duties of guard, assistant, hunter, fisherman, etc., 

 and, in extremity, supplies, both by his body and his skin, 

 both food and raiment for his master. 



THE LAPLANDERS 



have the reindeer, which is also singularly adapted to their 

 wants, the most reliable and only beast of burthen capable 

 of enduring the rigors of so cold a latitude, supplying them 

 with milk, butter and cheese, their flesh making the best of 

 food, and their skin the best of clothing. 



THE PERUVIANS 



have the llama, or alpaca, which is accustomed to climb the 

 mountains, carries heavy burthens jover the Andes, and fur- 

 nishes them with milk for their children, wool for clothing, 

 but best of all, meat for food. The 



INHABITANTS OF THE DESERT 



have the camel, or dromedary, for crossing the arid, sandy 

 plains, carrying heavy burthens, and bearing within them- 

 selves a supply of water to last them for a week. They 

 have also the horse, lithe, active and enduring, capable of 

 traveling with great fleetness for days, on the most scanty 

 fare. 



