ORDER PACHYDERMATA. 443 



to break loose. He falls at last when respiration fails, 

 the men throw themselves upon him, bind him, and put a 

 strong halter round his neck. 



In each of these wild troops the chief possesses peculiar 

 privileges. He is the grand sultan, and his harem is very 

 extensive. Should any other have the temerity to invade 

 his rights in this way, or annoy him in his amours, he 

 would soon pay the forfeit of his audacity. In a case of 

 this sort the rage of the chief knows no bounds ; he im- 

 mediately attacks his unhappy rival, obliges him to fly, and 

 not unfrequently deprives him of life. 



Sometimes, like a proud conqueror, he deigns to admit 

 him in his train, as if to witness his enjoyments. He 

 would not, in all probability, prove so generous, if he could 

 reflect and foresee that the conquered enemy of to-day may 

 become in his turn the conqueror of to-morrow, and take 

 an ample vengeance for the affronts he has received. 



It appears from the details we have entered into, that 

 the Horse, in a state of nature, would be about the 

 middle size ; have a larger head and ears, stouter limbs, 

 and a coarser skin than the domestic Horse. Its intelli- 

 gence, however, does not seem to be much affected by such 

 a state ; those Horses are easily reduced under the yoke 

 of servitude, but infinite pains are necessary to restore to 

 them their lofty stature and elegant proportions. 



The rut takes place in the spring, and gestations con- 

 tinue for twelve months. The colt is born covered with 

 hair, with the eyes open, and sufficient strength to enable 

 it to support itself and walk. Some days after the birth, 

 the two middle incisives appear in each jaw ; two others, 

 at the right and left of the first, come in three or four 

 months after, and the two last in about six months. These 

 are the milk teeth, which are reproduced in the same order 

 between two or three years' time, at intervals of six months. 

 The colt is suckled almost twelve months, and its growth 



