406 



THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 



tion, and small, lustrous, fiery, wicked eyes; in 'sum- 

 mer its hair is thick, short and wavy, especially on 

 the hinder quarters, where it becomes almost curly; 

 in winter it is thick, coarse and long, especially on 

 the chin, where it nearly reaches the proportions of 

 a beard; the mane is short, thick, bushy and curly; 

 the tail is of moderate length. The prevailing color 

 in summer is a uniform pale brown, yellowish brown 

 or sorrel tint; in winter the hair becomes lighter, 

 sometimes even white, and the mane and tail look 

 uniformly dark. Piebald specimens are never seen, 

 and black ones very rarely. 



Habits of the The Tarpan is always found in herds, 



Wild Horse of which may number several hundred. 



Tartary. Usually the herd is subdivided into 



smaller, family-like groups, each led by a stallion. 



These herds inhabit wide, open and high table-lands 



or plains and wander from one spot to another, usu- 



their fore-hoofs. The story which represents them 

 as forming a circle and kicking with their hind legs 

 has been disproven long ago. 

 The Tarpan Diffi- ^^^ Tarpan is difficult to tame; it 

 cult to Domes- seems that the animal cannot endure 

 ticate. captivity. His lively temper, his 



strength and savage disposition, defy even the Mon- 

 gols, well • acquainted as they are with the break- 

 ing of Horses. The Tarpan is hunted to its death 

 with zeal and passion on account of the considera- 

 ble damage it causes among herds of domesticated 

 Horses by enticing them away whenever they are 

 left to run at liberty. 



These accounts leave the question as to the origin 

 of the Horse unsolved; opinions oppose each other. 

 The characteristics of the Tarpan offer no decisive 

 evidence as to its original character, for Horses re- 

 vert to the wild state easily and rapidly. The herds 



^^ 



THE TABPAN.— In the steppes north of the Sea of Azof, are large herds of these wild Horses which are made up of numerous families 

 led by a stallion. These Horses are small, of dun color, have short manes, rather short tails, and are very fleet and timid. {Eguus tartan.) 



ally pursuing their course against the wind. They 

 are exceedingly wary and shy, - look around with 

 high, uplifted heads, snort, whinny, prick their ears, 

 expand their nostrils, and as a rule perceive any 

 menacing danger in good time. The stallion is the 

 sole ruler of the society. He cares for their security 

 but tolerates no irregularity among his subjects. As 

 soon as something arouses his attention, this patri- 

 arch begins to snort and quickly erects his ears; with 

 head held high he trots in one particular direction, 

 neighing violently if he perceives any danger and 

 the whole herd scampers off at a frenzied gallop. 

 Sometimes the animals disappear from sight as if by 

 magic. This occurs, when they conceal themselves 

 in some deep depression to await further develop- 

 ments. Beasts of- prey do not intimidate the cou- 

 rageous and' pugnacious stallions. Against Wolves 

 they sally forth, neighing, and beat them down with 



inhabiting the pampas of South America are an 

 effective example of this. Let us cast a glance at 

 them. 



Origin of the "The town of Buenos Ayres," says 

 Wild Horse of the Azara, "founded in 1535, was subse- 

 Pampas. quently abandoned. The emigrating 

 inhabitants did not even go to the trouble of collect- 

 ing all their Horses and about five to seven of them 

 were left behind, free to follow their own devices. 

 When the same city was again taken possession of 

 and populated in 1580, a number of wild Horses 

 were found, the progeny of those which had been left 

 behind. As early as 1 596 everybody was allowed to 

 capture those Horses and use them. This is the orig- 

 inal stock from which sprung the innumerable herds 

 of Horses which now rove south of the Rio de la 

 Plata." The Cimarrones, as these Horses are called, 

 now live in all parts of the pampas in enormous 



