364 nature's teachings. 



from the foot, and examined upon the interior, it will be seen 

 that each of the apparent scratches signifies the edge of a very 

 thin plate of horn, not so thick as the paper on which this 

 book is printed. The hoof, in fact, is built up of multitudinous 

 plates of horn, set side by side, and each acting as a separate 

 spring. It is this beautiful structure which allows the horse 

 to tread without a jar being sent through its whole system by 

 every step which it takes. 



A similar structure is to be found in all hoofed quadrupeds, 

 and is especially noticeable in the case of the Elephant. All 

 those who have watched the walk of an Elephant, no matter 

 what its size may be, must have been struck with the curious 

 noiselessness of its movements. Its weight may be measured 

 by tons, and yet the enormous animal steps as noiselessly as a 

 cat. On examining one of the hoofs, after it is removed from 



HORSE-HOOP. CARRIAGE SPRING. 



the foot, the cause of this marvellously silent tread is perfectly 

 evident. The whole of the hoof is composed of nearly parallel 

 horny plates, and by their united action they produce the 

 required result. 



Each plate in itself is very feeble, but, when united as they 

 are at the ends, they afford mutual support to each other. 

 Similarly the separate feathers in a couch would be crushed by 

 a comparatively slight weight, but when a number are con- 

 fined together they support each other, and form the soft, 

 yielding couch with which we are so familiar. Horsehair, 

 when used as the^stuffmg for a couch or chair, acts in the 

 same way, and so do the fine filaments of wool when used 

 under the name of " flock." 



