292 DIVISION I. VERTEERAL ilNIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



their cars witli tlic liind lei^'s, anil astonisliing' tlie stallion, if lie is present, 

 with their \vilj glee, and he raises liis crest, ilings up his tail, snorts, and 

 gallojis aliiiut with every sign of extreme pleasure. 



The EquidiV! arc separated into two genera — E(juxis Cahallus and 

 jixinus. 



Equus Caballus. Tlic feral, or wild horses of the American continent, 

 are generally admitted to bo the oflspring of the domestic horses brought 

 from pjurope by the S[)aniards, although some observers, whose opinions are 

 entitled to respect, do not cdincide with tliis iipinii)n. ^^'e may also add in 

 this connection, that a distinguished naturalist found the bones of horses in 

 company with those of the Mi'[ititltrrinui in alluvial deposits, and evidently 

 belonging to the same zoiilogiral period. It is probable, ihcrefnrc, and in 

 harmony with the order of Nature, that vast troops of native horses have 

 crossed the American continent, and filled tlie liroad and fertile savannas of 

 North and Soutii ^Vmerica with cipiine life, in periods long antecedent to the 

 time of Ci)luml)us. 



The immense plains and Bfeppea of Asia have several species of wild horses, 

 whicii are evidently aboriginal, and not, as some suppose, the degenerate 

 stock of the domestic breeds. Although the feral horses of America and 

 Asia differ \cry materially:in size, and other impoi-tant characters, they have 

 alike the instinct of associating in vast herds for nmtual protection. Taught 

 by experience, they exercise such constant vigilance, and adopt such an 

 elective system of defence, that neither bears, nor wolves, nor even the ter- 

 rible pumas venture to encounter them. 



EijiiHS CdbdJIiiK iJomcxticuK. — The Domestic Horse. All our domestic 

 horses are probably cross-breeds from ancient forms, of whose peculiar char- 

 acteristics we know little at the present day. They are, howe\cr, improved 

 breeds, and are adapted to the wants of the conununities in which they are 

 found. " A^arving from race to race, from individual to individual, there is 

 no absolute standard of ])cauty in a practical view, although there may be 

 a maximum of ideal beauty for the painter and sculptor, physically unattain- 

 able, and probalily undesirable; therefore general qualities of health, age, 

 soundness, structure, and temper being admitted, the horse should be con- 

 sidered in relation to the particular purposes it is bred for, and the social 

 condition and predominant desires of each nation." In Arabia, for example, 

 the development of the breed has been shaped liy the genius and needs of the 

 people. In Spain, the animal diifers in outward appearance from an Eng- 

 lish or American race-horse ; it is more curvilinear in outline, because this 

 form is most gracel'id, and adapted to measured steps and elegant curvettings ; 

 with us, on the other hand, its form is more rectangular, Ix'st adapted lor 

 impelling the mass with velocity forward. The beauty of the first is not 



