286 EVOLUTION OF THE B^ORSE. 



CHAPTER XXIX* 



EVOLUTION OF THE HORSE. 



Ancestiy of the Hoise — Immediate Ancestois of the Hoise — Conditions 

 which modified the Foim of the Hoise— Points of Speed and Stiength 

 m the Fossil Horse—- The Horse of the Futuie 



Ancestry of the Horse. — It is my Intention here, with 

 special reference to conformation, to write about the 

 descent of the horse in such a manner that my remarks 

 may be easily understood by those who possess no acquain- 

 tance with fossils or comparative anatomy. Instead of 

 commencing the history of the horse_ according to the 

 orthodox method, at a period many millions of years ago, 

 I shall begin with him as he now is, and shall try to trace 

 back his lineage to a time sufficiently remote for our 

 requirements. Although we cannot hope to determine the 

 exact sequence of the footsteps of the animals which, m 

 their march of evolution, became gradually changed into 

 the horse ; we shall find, on their track, marks left by them, 

 or by their near relatives who accompanied them on their 

 journey, that will guide us in the right direction. As science 

 progresses, so will the intervals between these land-marks 

 become filled in from time to time ; though it seems impossible 

 that the position of every footprint can ever be accurately 

 defined. 



We learn from the study of geology that living creatures 

 began to inhabit the earth after its crust, which was once in a 



* For fuller information on this subject see Professor A Gaudry's EncMtne- 

 ments du Mojide Animal, and Sir WiUiam Flower's The Horse. 



