about the period of Constantine the Great, he observes, in the preface 

 to bis work, in language that appears ironically meant, " that he did not 

 intend to inquire, in treating of the diseases of horses, whether the black 

 colour could be distinguished from brown ; or whether the side profile of 

 the horse should be of an oblong or Square forrii ; or whether born of 

 Areas or Cyrene:'* his work, however, after this flippant display, is little 

 eise than an imitation and copy of Absyrtus. 



Many quadrupeds, which in form are less graceful than the horse, have 

 the Square lengthened upwards, as the elephant, the camelopardalis, ante- 

 lope, &c. ; but by far the most numerous tribes of animals deviate from 

 the Square in the opposite direction, as the lion, tyger, bear, &c. ; and 

 in a more extraordinary degree, the badger, otter, squirrel, weazei, pole- 

 cat, &c. and theburrowingand creeping animals. 



Having noticed the square which the general outline of the horse de- 

 scribes, we shall now venture upon some remarks on the composition or 

 framing of the trunk and limbs, which may tend to give clearer notions 

 respecting his construction, and of the intentions of nature and advantages 

 resulting from such arrangements. 



The trunk of the horse alone, and separated from the limbs, appears to 

 be fashioned much after the manner of a boat, within which are disposed 

 the various viscera and organs for the life and support of the machine ; ribs 

 enclose them as in these vessels : the boat-like form is also best suited 

 to cleave and pass through the surrounding atmosphere with the least re- 

 sistance, and the machine narrowing to either extremitygivescommodious 

 opportunity for the attachment of the limbs, The sternum, or breast-bone, 

 by its perpendicular direction and depth, (more especially in front, strongly 

 r«sembles the keel of a vessel, as also in having the property of securing 

 the ribs ; and it may bea circumstance worthy of remark, that theancients 

 expressed themselves on equitation figuratively by the terms or cpi- 

 thets relating to navigation — hence their Ericthonius, Equestrian Neptune, 

 &c. ; not that the above circumstance of the figure of the trunk occasioned 

 this modc of expressiou ; for it was probably taken from their first receiv- 

 ioig from the Egyptians, the managed horse transported to their coasts on 

 siiipboard, and hence the mountainous coasts ofThessaly became famous 



c for 



