410 
Becent Agricultural Pnhlications. 
is a vicious horse. “ To the word vice is usually given the sense 
of a serious moral imperfection ; to the word fault, that of a slight 
moral imperfection ; finally, to the word defect, that of a physical 
deficiency more or less serious.” The malformations that are as- 
sociated with various curious but expressive terms are discussed in 
this section — Roman nose, camel nose, lop ear, swine ear, pig’s eye, 
gross eye, hollow eye, wall eye, lolling tongue, arched head, hare- 
faced head, hurdy-gurdy head, sway back, corded flank, tucked-up 
flank, hooped knee, low-jointed pastern, flat foot, pumiced foot, 
cross foot, club foot, dry foot, &c. The following rules as to the 
nostril are concise and instructive : — 
1. The nostril should be large and clear. 
2. The mucous membrane, rosy at rest, more or less red after exercise. 
3. The liquid which it discharges clear and transparent. 
4. The air w’hich is exhaled inodorous. 
6. Inspiration and expiration should he noiseless. 
Defining the croup as the region on the median line of the 
superior surface of the body, bounded in front by the loins, behind 
by the tail, and on each side by the thigh and the superior part of 
the buttock, the Arabian maxim is quoted, “As to the horse whose 
croup is as long as his back and loins united, you can safely choose 
him even with your eyes closed ; such a horse is a blessing.” The 
idea which it is sought to convey is “that the long croup should 
always be preferred, to the exclusion of all others.” 
The third section of the volume deals with proportions, a term 
which “ signifies agreement and correlation wdien it is applied to 
the different parts of one whole.” Proportions may be good or bad, 
perfect or defective : in reference thereto the animal is spoken of 
as well formed, correct in his lines, of handsome form, Ijeautiful 
symmetry, beautiful lines ; or he may be “ in two pieces,” in- 
harmoniously constructed, wanting in form and in symmetry. The 
accuracy with which this branch of the subject is studied is enhanced 
by the many numerical details which arc given, albeit the measure- 
ments are in the metric system, both here and in the other parts 
of the work. The following paragraph appears in this section : — 
“ The race-horse (the Euglish thoroughbred) has been, until the present 
time, the most successful variety which human industry has developed with 
reference to speed as the main quality. The principal characters of his con- 
formation are useful to us in distinguishing our rapid motors from among 
all others. They should, in fact, have high chests and members ; short and 
well-supported body and loins ; neck, shoulder, croup, thigh, buttock, leg, and 
fore-arm long ; without too much bulk to the body ; strong, dry, and clean 
members ; wide and thick articulations ; the}' must he closed in their superior 
angles, open in their inferior ; have a deep chest ; a small abdomen ; skin, 
hairs, and mane thin ; an intelligent, expressive physiognomy ; must be 
graceful, active, excitable (blood), energetic, impetuous, and of an inexhaus- 
tible endurance.” 
The horse in relation to locomotion is the subject of the fourth 
section. It is divided irrto two parts, the one dealing with attitudes 
