86 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1392. 



To eradicate them, one cross is not sufficient^ as the defect may miss 

 a generation and appear in tlie next. By continually crossing, for 

 instance, with good sloping- shouldered stallions in several genera- 

 tions, a straight shoulder would be got rid o£, but not in one or two. 

 Constitution. — Weak constitution is inherited, especially that 

 known aa ivashy, *.e., horses sweating easily, liable to diarrhoea when 

 worked, and apt to get superpurgation from a Yery small dose of 

 purgative medicine. 



Temper. — Many vices, buck-jumping in Australians, impetuosity 

 and excitability are inherited. 



Colour. — Is also inherited. Europeans prefer bay, black, dark 

 ■chestnut, and brown. Hence these colours are selected for breeding 

 the best class of horses. The result is, we practically never see 

 roan, grey, dun, or piebald Thorough-breds. Horses of these 

 colours in England are coarse and to be avoidecl, except greys and 

 sometimes roans. Grey is a favourite colour amongst the Arabs, 

 so out here many excellent horses are of that hue. Witness the pony 

 ^' Blitz," the famous "Greyleg," and others. Since long-range rifles 

 and guns have come so much into use, greys have been objected to 

 for Army purposes, as they are so easily seen. Hence they will 

 probably die out ; in the meantime they are becoming cheaper. 

 Native princes like dun as a colour; the result is good dun horses 

 and ponies are by no means uncommon in India. For generations 

 they have been well cared for, and the best stallions and mares 

 amongst them purposely mated to reproduce that shade. They 

 frequently have noses, arms, scrotum , and sheath pink, and blue 

 eyes. This, though hideous in the sight of an Englishman, is 

 much approved by many natives. 



Unsoundness. — The following are the principal hereditary unsound- 

 nesses, or, strictly speaking, unsoundnesses, a tendency to which is 

 hereditary : — 



Constitutional Ophthalmia. 



Cataract. 



Amaurosis. 



Glaucoma. 



Iritis. 



Roaring and Whistling. 



