214 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



the Cabinet, would be entirely insufEcient, neither would it 

 be desirable, as the club have already, under the direction 

 of a committee appointed for the purpose, drawn up full 

 directions on the subject, which are published in a neat 

 volume, called the Archer's Manual, by Mr. R. H.Hobson, 

 of this city, a work amply sufficient to direct the necessary 

 practice of an Archer, to the highest grade of skill. For 

 amusement and further instruction in this pleasing act, I 

 beg leave to refer the aspirant to " Ascham's Toxophilus," 

 a copy of which, if I am not mistaken, is in the Philadel- 

 phia Library. 



The prize of 1828, a silver arrow, was taken by ^; 

 the secondary prize of that year, a broach set with tour- 

 quoise, by J . 



That of 1829, a silver goblet became the property of 

 ^ : the secondary prize of this year, six English arrows, 

 the property of ^ . For the last years' prize, a silver 

 bugle, ^ was again the successful competitor, and 3 

 took the secondary, a silver grease box. 



The prizes for this year are, for the first, a badge of sil- 

 ver, with appropriate Archery devices; and for the secon- 

 dary, a clasp for the belt, also with appropriate devices, 

 the designs for which are from the pencil of our worthy 

 associate 3 ' distinguished alike for his taste and talent as 

 an artist, and the vigour of his arm as an accomplished 

 bowman. 



The contest for these prizes will, I have no doubt, be 

 ably and zealously contested, and will afford much interest 

 to the parties and their friends. 



For the information of those who may wish to be fur- 

 nished with bows and arrows, I beg leave to state, that 

 Mr. William Bent, under the patronage of the club, has 

 become a proficient in the manufacture of these articles; 

 his shop is in Library-street, near to Fifth. 



If the subject is deemed of sufficient interest, I purpose 

 to give you, in a future number, an account of our next 

 prize shooting, which takes place in September. 



Yours, truly, /^ 



ON THE VICIOUS HABITS AND PROPENSITIES OF HORSES. 

 By Thomas R. Yare. 



(From the London Sporting Magazine,) 



CRIB-BITING. 



BrFFON says, "horses in their natural state are by no 

 means ferocious; they are only wild and fiery;" and it may 

 be added with equal truth, that they are not naturally 

 vicious: for their ill tempers, as well as manners, originate 

 entirely from defective education and rough handling. 



Harsh usage and punishment are of no avail as correc- 

 tives; for under cruel discipline the horse becomes more 

 obstinate, morose, and irritable, and is very soon rendered 

 dangerous of approach. If, on the contrary, you use him 

 kindly, and he finds that, instead of a tymnt, he has a 

 friend about him, he will be under your hands as tractable 

 as a lamb: in fact, so subservient that you may do any 

 thing with him — for it is well known to those acquainted 

 with the nature of the horse, that no animal is more suscep- 

 tible of soothing, nor more docile and grateful for gentle 

 usage, as he invariably evinces cheerfulness on the approach 

 of the person from whom he receives kind treatment. 



An occupation for which I have always felt a peculiar 

 partiality, has been the study of the temper and disposition 

 of the horse, and from the observations I have in conse- 

 quence made, am convinced, that a multiplicity of errors 

 are committed from ignorance of his true character in the 

 rearina: and tuition of that noble animal, which afterwards 

 fall heavily and very unjustly on him. 



Many horses have been entrusted to my care for correc- 

 tion, under the supposition that they were bad tempered or 

 viciously disposed, which, in otlier hands, would, without 

 doubt, have been acted upon accordingly — i. e. rendered 

 more faulty by harsh proceedings. On acquaintance with 

 them, I have generally found the poor animals to be only 

 nervous and irritable from ill treatment, rather than vicious 

 by nature; in short, "more sinned against than sinning:" 

 for no sooner had I gained their confidence, than the tre- 

 mulous awe and timidity they evinced on being approach- 

 ed, totally disappeared; and after a short trial, I have re- 

 turned them to their owners divested of the alleged com- 

 plaints, with this simple injunction, or something tanta- 

 mount to it, " Use them kindly: for vicious conduct makes 

 vicious horses;" at the same time urgijig them to bear in 

 mind, " that the horse is naturally of a gentle disposition, 

 and much disposed to associate with man." 



This may be exemplified by any gentleman recollecting 

 the pleasure a horse seems to feel wlien noticed and caress- 

 ed by himself; yet, on scrutiny, the same demonstrations 

 of joy will not take place on the approach of the attendant. 

 Education generally imparts humanity and feeling to its 

 possessor; and a gentleman enjoying these qualities more 

 eminently than his domestics, the animal's discrimination 

 causes him to recognise a difference in the behaviour of 

 each towards him. 



Grooms are too prone to be harsh and hasty towards the 

 horse ; whereas, if they would only study to make a 

 a pleasure of their duty, they would considerably abbre- 

 viate the routine of their labour. In consequence of erro- 

 neous conduct, horses will occasionally acquire a character 

 for viciousness amongst stable men, which cannot be sub- 



