44-0 UNGULATA. 



THE ITALIAN HORSE. 



We need say little respecting the horse in Italy. During long ages 

 of misgovernment and oppression, the Italian horse, once celebrated 

 for the beauty of his form and his paces, sadly deteriorated. The 

 Neapolitan horses were particularly remarkable for their size and majes- 

 tic action, but, with few exceptions, have degenerated. A rapid improve- 

 ment has now taken place, and is still in progress. 



As a striking contrast between our style of racing, in which the rider 

 or driver is so important, we subjoin an account of the peculiar method 

 in which the races were run during the Roman Carnival. 



The horses — termed Barberi, because the race was at first contested 

 by Barbs — are brought to the starting-post, their heads and their necks 

 gayly ornamented ; while, to a girth which goes round the body of each, 

 are attached several loose straps, having at their ends small balls of lead 

 thickly set with sharp steel points. At every motion these are brought 

 in contact with the flanks and bellies of the horses, and the more violent 

 the motion, the more drv.aful the incessant torture. On their backs are 

 placed sheets of thin tin or stiff paper, which, when agitated, will make a 

 rustling, rattling noise. A rope is placed across the street to prevent 

 them getting away, and a groom holds each horse. When all is ready 

 for starting, a troop of dragoons gallops through the street in order to 

 clear the way. A trumpet sounds, the rope drops, the grooms let go 

 their hold, and the horses start away like arrows from a bow. The 

 harder they run, the more they are pricked ; the cause of this they seem 

 scarcely able to comprehend, for they bite and plunge at each other, and 

 a terrible fight is sometimes commenced. Others, from mere fright or 

 sulkiness, stand stock-still, and it is by brute force alone that they can 

 again be induced to move. A strong canvas screen is passed along the 

 bottom of the street. This is the goal. It has the appearance of a wall ; 

 but some of the horses, in the excess of their agony and terror, dart full 

 against it, tear through it, or carry it away. 



THE SPANISH HORSE. 



The common breed of Spanish horses have nothing extraordinary 

 about them. The legs and feet are good, but the head is rather large, 

 the forehand heavy, and yet the posterior part of the chest deficient, the 

 crupper also having too much the appearance of a mule. The horses of 



