42 



ANIMAL LOCOMOTION. 



diagonally. The same leg moves rather ofteiier during the 

 same period in trotting than in walking, or as six to five. The 

 velocity acquired by moving the legs in pairs, instead of con- 

 secutively, depends on the circumstance that in the trot each 

 leg rests on the ground during a short interval, and swings 

 during a long one ; whilst in walking each leg swings a short, 

 and rests a long period. The undulations arising from the 

 projection of the trunk in the trot are chiefly in the vertical 

 plane ; in the walk they are more in the horizontal. 



The gallop has been erroneously believed to consist of a 

 series of bounds or leaps, the two hind legs being on the 

 ground when the two fore legs are in the air, and vice versa, 

 there being a period when all four are in the air. Thus 

 Sainbell in his " Essay on the Proportions of Eclipse," states 

 " that the gallop consists of a repetition of bounds, or leaps, 

 more or less high, and more or less extended in proportion to 

 the strength and lightness of the animal." A little reflection 

 will show that this definition of the gallop cannot be the 

 correct one. When a horse takes a ditch or fence, he gathers 

 himself together, and by a vigorous eff'ort (particularly of the 

 hind legs), throws himself into the air. This movement 

 requires immense exertion and is short-lived. It is not in 

 the power of any horse to repeat these bounds for more than 

 a few minutes, from which it follows that the gallop, which 

 may be continued for considerable periods, must difler very 

 materially from the leap. 



The pace known as the amble is an artificial movement, 

 produced by the cunning of the trainer. It resembles that of 

 the giraffe, where the right fore and right hind foot move 

 together to form one step ; the left fore and left hind foot 

 moving together to form the second step. By the rapid 

 repetition of these movements the right and left sides of the 

 body are advanced alternately by a lateral swinging motion, 

 very comfortable for the rider, but anything but graceful. 

 The amble is a defective pace, inasmuch as it interferes with 

 the diagonal movements of the limbs, and impairs the con- 

 tinuity of motion which the twisting, cross movement begets. 

 Similar remarks might be made of the gallop if it consisted 

 (which it does not) of a series of bounds or leaps, as each 



