CLASS I. MAMMALIA: 
ORDER 10. SOLIDINGULA. 
589 
THE HORSE IN CHITALRT. 
man on horseback seems to feel that the strength and speed of the horse are a part of his nature, 
and even the old man, when his limbs begin to falter, receives something of the animation of 
youth when mounted upon his favorite horse. The fair dame, more fair than ever, and conscious 
of her advantage, breathes the air of Elj^sium when she skims the earth upon her palfry. The 
robber, the assassin, having secured his booty or struck his blow, enjoys, with his foot in the stir- 
rup, a sense of security and triumph as he flies from the scene of his guilt, even though it be in 
the blackness of night. The hunter, whether with hound and horn in chase of the fox, or with 
bow and arrow or rifle straining across the prairies of the far west in pursuit of the bison; or on 
the illimitable pampas with his whirling lasso, as he thunders in the track of herds of wild cattle ; 
or in the wildernesses of Africa, more fearless than Nimrod, chases countless troops of antilopes, 
deer, quaggas, buffaloes, rhinoceri, hippopotami, elephants, and gira0"es — the hunter in all these 
scenes is elevated by the horse he rides from the slow, plodding, feeble biped, to the realization 
of a double existence — the might, majesty, and domain of the fabled centaur. To the lordly dame 
that rolls pompously along in her coach; to the humble drudge that follows the plow; to the 
weary wagoner along the dirty road ; to each and all the horse contributes the luxuries or the 
necessities of life. In some countries — as among the Tartars — the flesh of the horse is highly 
relished.* We have hardly come to that, though in some -parts of Europe, and especially at 
Vienna, we are told that horse-steak is esteemed delicious. It is true that in most cases we make 
an end of our domestic animals by eating them; but as to the horse, when he can do no more 
* The question whether horse-flesh is edible has been much discussed by the savans of Europe, especially of late, 
and the general opinion is that it is alike nutritious and savory. Gervais says, " We may rank the horse among the 
alimentary animals. The flesh of a young horse is excellent, and that of the wild horse is still better. In some 
countries "this is habitually eaten, and* in others the flesh of the domestic horse is common in the butcheries. In time 
of war a good use may be made of the flesh of wounded horses, or those that are killed on the field. In time of fam- 
ine the horse has been eaten even at Paris. In 1793 a part of the inhabitants of this city were fed on horse-flesh 
without perceiving it. Some naturalists have asked why this aliment has not become common, and have come to 
the conclusion that on this subject society has much to learn." " In Denmark and other countries, where horse-flesh 
is eaten, the prejudice against it constantly diminishes."— Jlistoire Mturelle des Mammiferes. 
