HISTORY 



OF QUADRUPEDS. 



9 



tieas ; or, what is a more general practice, let them to 

 hire by the feafon, for forty, eighty, or perhaps an hun- 

 dred guineas ; and fome of them cover at five guineas a 

 mare. The form of the black Lincolnfliire Horfe has, 

 by their management, been materially altered : The long 

 fore-end, long back, and long thick hairy legs, have 

 gradually contracted into a fhort thick carcafe, a fhort 

 but upright fore-end, and fhort clean legs; experience 

 having at length proved, that ftrength and activity, ra- 

 ther than height and weight, are the more eflential pro- 

 perties of farm Horfes. 



Another advantage poffefled by this improved breed, is 

 its hardinefs, or thriving quality •, its being able to carry 

 flefti, or {land hard work, with comparatively little pro- 

 vender. This hardinefs of conftitution, or natural pro- 

 pensity to thriving, the Leicefterfhire breeders aflert is 

 hereditary in particular individual breeds or lines of 

 Horfes. If this obfervation be juft, and that the feeding 

 quality can be obtained with any degree of certainty by 

 management in breeding, in this as well as other kinds 

 of live flock, it is a mod interefting circumftance in the 

 nature of domeftic animals. 



A ftrong, bony, and active kind of Horfes is now 

 ufed in our carriages, inftead of the old black Coach- 

 Horfe, which is almoft univerfally laid afide. The 

 docked tail, offenfive both to humanity and decency, is 

 rarely to be feen: Propriety and good fenfe have at 

 length prevailed over a cuftom replete with abfurdity; 

 and our Horfes are permitted to tetain a member both 

 ufeful and ornamental. But we have dill to regret, that 

 the cruel practice of forming the tail, by cutting and 

 nicking it on the under fide, is yet continued. 



