fijRst principles of conformation. 



immense strength, so as to arrive at a knowledge of the 

 principles by which their special characteristics are developed 

 to a high degree of excellence. As the conformation best 

 adapted for the one is different from that for - the other, we 

 cannot find both united in the same animal. I need hardly 

 say that the manner in which the proportions of speed and 

 strength are varied in each particular horse, is the measure 

 of the suitability of the animal to the kind of work it is 

 called upon to perform. Thus, a dray-horse which can trot 

 a mile in eight minutes with 3,000 lbs. behind it, may be 

 quite as useful, in its own way, as a match-trotter which, with 

 a sulky and driver weighing together 200 lbs., can do a mile 

 in two minutes twenty seconds. 



Comparative Conformation, — In this proposed re- 

 search, we shall find that the two classes (those of speed and 

 those of strength) to which I have just alluded, differ 

 essentially in shape from each other, and that individuals 

 of each respective class have a similar kind of conformation. 

 As an example of the gallopers, let us take the Indian black 

 buck (Fig. i), which, for half a mile, could give five hands 

 and a beating to the fastest horse that ever looked through 

 a bridle. Then there is the cheetah (Fig. 3), which can 

 give the antelope 100 yards start and catch him in a 

 furlong. It is true that the spotted cat effects his purpose 

 a good deal by surprise ; but it is equally certain that for 

 a couple of hundred yards he can travel with the velocity 

 of an express train. Also, there is the greyhound (Fig. 8), 

 with whose speed we are all familiar. In comparison with 

 these fleet of foot animals, let us note the '' make and 

 shape ^' of the buffalo (Fig. 2) and rhinoceros, both of which 

 are endowed with vast muscular power. And as the 

 opposite of the ** long- tailed dog," let us take the bulldog or 

 dachshund. On examining these animals we shall observe 

 that the limbs (especially the hind ones, from which is 

 derived the greater part of the forward propulsion) of the 

 gallopers are much longer in proportion to the animal's 



