HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 13 



latter end of March till the beginning of June ; but her 

 chief ardour for the Horfe continues only fifteen or 

 twenty days. She goes with young eleven months and 

 fome days •, continues to breed till the age of fixteen or 

 eighteen years ; and lives, on an average, between twenty 

 and thirty years. 



Although the Horfe is endowed with vaft ftrength and 

 powers, he feldom exerts either to the prejudice of his 

 rnafter : On the contrary, he mares with him in his la- 

 bours, and feems to participate in his pleafures; gene- 

 rous and perfevering, he gives up his whole powers to 

 the fervice of his matter; though bold and intrepid, he 

 reprefles the natural vivacity and fire of his temper, and 

 not only yields to the hand, but feems to confult the in- 

 clination of his rider. 



But it muft continue to be matter of regret to every 

 feeling mind, that thefe excellent qualities mould be often 

 fhamefully abufed in the mod unnecefTary exertions ; and 

 the honeft labours of this noble animal thrown away in 

 the ungrateful talk of accomplishing the purpofes of un- 

 feeling folly, or lavifhed in gratifying the expectations of 

 an intemperate moment. 



