THE " TAKE OFF:' 



107 



appears to be the only one present. I may mention that I 

 have not had an opportunity of observing the paces of other 

 large felines. The Indian black buck and the South African 

 springbok, which are two remarkably fast kinds of antelope, 

 generally begin their gallop by a series of leaps, when 

 suddenly startled The gallop of the mastiff (which is a 

 comparatively slow dog), depicted by Figs. 172 to 177, 



Fig. 172. 



Fig. 173 



Fig. 174. 



Fig, 175. Fig. 176. 



Gallop of the Heavy Dog. 



Fig. 177. 



resembles that of the horse. I may remark that the longer 

 the period of suspension, the faster and more fatiguing, as 

 a rule, will be the gallop. 



Figs. 195 to 199 show photographs of ^the leap from 

 takmg'off to landing' ^ ^ ^ ' 



Manner in which the Horse takes off, — In the 



canter or gallop, the animal makes his preparation when 

 he supports his body on his leading fore leg (Figs. 178 

 and 181), by straightening which (and especially its fetlock 

 joint) he raises his fore hand. At the same time, he brings 

 one hind leg down (generally that on the same side as 

 the leading fore), followed by the other hind (Figs. 179 

 and 180, and Figs. 183 and 184), and, by straightening 

 them out, projects the body upward and forward (Figs. 

 185, 186 and 187). We may note that there is, practically, 



