TELEGONY AND REVERSION. 107 



bacon — the lines produced by the string with which it is 

 for a time encircled. In the yellow-dun Canadian mare 

 there are seventeen lines between the elbow and the stifle, 

 separated by spaces about two inches in width. The four 

 most posterior arch upwards in front of the stifle, and 

 then curve backwards across the flank feather. The lines 

 which cross the lower part of the feather are quite evident 

 in the majority of horses ; they are particularly distinct in 

 two of my chestnut mares, and in an almost white Arab 

 mare. All but continuous with these "feather" lines I have 

 seen ill-defined markings extending right across the hind 

 quarters of two bay horses of the Shire breed. In front 

 of the recurved lines there are in the Canadian mare 

 thirteen others, which occupy a nearly vertical position. 

 Some of them incline forwards as they pass behind the 

 elbow, to end in what might be described as an indistinct 

 ventral band ;* while others bend slightly backwards. In 

 Mulatto relatively broad vertical lines are especially dis- 

 tinct. Beginning some distance behind the shoulder-blade, 

 within seven or eight inches of the spinal ridge, they run 

 down the sides of the body towards the ventral surface. 

 At a distance of twelve yards seven lines can be easily 

 recognised, the second forking about the level of the 

 shoulder-joint, after the manner of the body stripes in 

 some zebras and zebra hybrids. In some cases I have 

 seen lines running obliquely upwards above the level of 

 the flank feather. These delicate and faint flank markings 

 (which are distinct enough in a yearling chestnut fillyt to 

 admit of their being photographed) are especially interest- 

 Mr. Alexander alone, of all tliose wise about horses I liave consulted, 

 had seen them ; he has even tried to represent them in some of his 

 pictures. 



* One of the recognised differences between recent horses and their 

 allies, the zebras, is the absence in the horse of a ventral band ; but in 

 the Canadian mare an indistinct band, about a foot in length, extends 

 along the breast-bone. 



f This filly belongs to the Walltower Stud Farm. To the owners 

 (Messrs. Cairns) I am indebted for many favours during the last two years. 



