46 CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 



mal, but in ancient times it was found wild in the deserts 

 of Asia, Africa, and Europe. The large deserts of South 

 America are at this time filled with wild horses, which are 

 the descendants of those brought over by the Spaniards 

 and set at liberty. Those wild horses are all brown, 

 which indicates that the original stock was of a brown 

 color. Every horse has thirty-eight or forty teeth, namely : 

 twelve front teeth, twenty-four grinders; and the maie 

 two, and sometimes four, canine teeth. 



§ 158. The front teeth indicate the age of the horse until 

 it is eight years old. The twelve front teeth begin to ap- 

 pear fifteen days after birth, and are round, short, fall 

 out at different times, and are to be replaced by others. 

 The two middle front teeth above, and below, fall out 

 when the animal is two years and a half old ; the next 

 four front teeth, above and below, fall out when the animal 

 is three years and a half old : the remaining four of the 

 extremities fall out at the age of four years and a half. 

 The value of the horse is incalculable for agriculture, 

 draught, and war. ' The hide is transformed into leather, 

 and the milk and flesh are eaten by many Indians, Tartar 

 tribes, Calmuks, and sometimes even by more civilized 

 people ; and their hair is used for the bottoms of chairs, 

 sofas, and mattresses. 



§ 159. The Ass (Equus Asinus) is distinguished from 

 the horse by being smaller, having long ears, a short tail, 

 and a different voice. The age of the Ass can be ascer- 

 tained in the same manner as that of the horse. It is a 

 native of Arabia, whence it was brought to Egypt ; is 

 now found in all temperate and warm climates, and is 

 valued on account of its great utility in transporting 

 travellers and merchandise over mountainous countries. 

 It is also used like horses for draught, and is a very docile 

 animal. The Hindoos treat the Ass with great considera- 

 tion, believing that the souls of dead noblemen are destined 

 to inhabit the bodies of Asses. 



§ 160. The Zebra (Equus Zebra) is a native of Africa, 

 has the form of the ass, and is of a white color, with black 

 stripes. It lives in herds, is uncommonly swift, but wild 

 and untractable. 



