44 THE HORSE. 



and gentle ; after that period they, for the most part, are given to 

 rearing, kicking, biting, and a thousand equally disagreeable 

 habits." Other writers have defined the several breeds found 

 throughout the southern parts of India, and named them also, as 

 Toorky, Cozakee, Tazsee, &c. ; but I understand from good author- 

 ity that there are really no such breeds in existence now, and 

 probably they were only called into being by the active imagina- 

 tions of inventive writers. Large breeding studs were kept by 

 some of the native princes, but these were mainly dependent upon 

 imported Arabs and Persians, and could claim no peculiar strain 

 as their own. The same mixture of blood prevails in the present 

 day, with the exception of the horses in the northern provinces. 



The Birman Horse is very small, being seldom higher than 

 thirteen hands, and it is said that some specimens are less than 

 eleven. The same remark applies also to those of China, Siam, 

 and Java. 



THE AUSTRALIAN HORSE. 



The Irishman's fifth quarter of the world is now 

 abundantly supplied with horses of the first class, in size, speed, 

 and stoutness, though little more than half a century ago the ani- 

 mal was altogether unknown there. At first, from the proximity 

 of India and the Cape of Good Hope, the horses of these colonies, 

 and those of inferior value only, were imported into the new settle- 

 ment; but about the year 1835 great efforts were made by several 

 enterprising settlers, both in the Island of Van Dieman and also 

 on the continent of Australia, and several horses of good breeding 

 were imported from this country, especially by Mr. Wilmore in 

 the former island. It was soon found that the climate is admirably 

 suited to this animal, and there are now colonial-bred horses, 

 adapted for the turf and the road, as well as for agricultural pur- 

 poses, superior in soundness and probably in stoutness, even if 

 they are deficient in face, as compared with the British thorough- 

 bred. As far as I know, no Australian horse has been imported 

 into England, so that we have no means of comparing the two on 

 terms advantageous to the mother country ; nor possibly can we 

 altogether depend upon the glowing accounts which are furnished 

 us of the appearance and performances of our Antipodean rivals. 

 Still I am inclined to believe that as the soil and climate are ad- 

 mitted to improve the appearance of the imported horses, as indeed 

 they do all our domestic animals, and as disease of all kinds is 

 extremely rare, so it will be found that in all* good qualities the 

 Australian horse is at least on a par with our own. Their breeders 

 are so spirited and determined that neither money nor trouble is 

 spared in procuring the best blood, an evidence of which is afforded 

 by the fact that at the recent sale of Lord Londesborough's stud, 

 the large sum of 3120 guineas (about $15,000) was invested for 



