THE HORSE. IO3 



seems obvious that at some time a free erowth 

 of hair on the neck was of essential value to 

 the equine race. Hence it is quite worth while 

 for any naturaHst of a horsey turn of mind, and 

 with a talent for investigation, to try to unravel 

 the mystery contained in the " elf-locks " in the 

 mane of every yearling. 



The horse's tail presents no such problems as 

 to its value and origin. There can be no doubt 

 that the primary use of the long hairs of the 

 tail was to sweep away noxious insects from the 

 skin. We all know how exceedingly sensitive 

 the horse is to the attacks of flies, and how, when 

 his owner allows him a chance, he keeps swishing 

 the long brush with which nature has provided 

 him over the whole surface of his body. To a 

 great extent this action is involuntary and auto- 

 matic. Every one who has been in the habit of 

 driving will have observed that whenever a 

 whip touches a horse it instantly responds with 

 a spasmodic movement of its tail, even although 

 it may be so hopelessly tired or lazy as to re- 

 quire much severer coercive measures to make it 

 quicken its pace. Now this jerk ot the tail in 

 the modern carriage-horse is an interesting piece 

 of vesticrial reflex action which bears no reference 



