ORDER OF PACHYDERMATA. 
201 
Sir James Shaftoe. The length, of the course was about four 
miles in a straight line, and, haying run over the level part of the 
ground, they found themselves ‘ neck and neck * on mounting the 
ascent. When within a short distance of the winning-post, 
‘ Elephant ’ gained a little on ‘ Forester/ and the latter made 
every possible effort to regain his lost ground ; hut seeing that 
these efforts failed, with a desperate bound he darted upon his 
antagonist, and seized him with his teeth, in order to hold him 
back, and it was with great difficulty he was made to let go his 
hold. 
“In 1753 another Horse, belonging to Mr. Quin, on seeing 
his antagonist pass him, seized the conqueror by one of his 
limbs, and the two jockeys were obliged to dismount to part their 
steeds.” 
The English author from whom we have borrowed these two 
facts regrets the state of the present system, which requires that 
the Hace-horse should be so pressed by the jockey, and that every- 
thing should be sacrificed to speed at the expense of strength, so 
that the victorious Horse leaves the course with his flanks torn 
by the spur, his sides running down with sweat, his tendons 
strained, and, in fact, incapable of further exertion, at least for 
that day. Men who are competent to judge regret to see that, 
both in France and England, every effort tends to one aim — an 
extraordinary rate of speed for a short space of time. It is not 
by requiring from a Horse the one quality of speed that we obtain 
vigour and endurance, which, after all, are the most necessary 
qualities. All our triumphs on the race-course, even those of 
“ Grladiateur,” winner of the “ Derby,” and the “ Grand Prix de 
Paris,” only go to prove the existence of a transient quality. 
Let us pass on to the Horman Horse (Fig. 56). Before the 
creation of the Administration des Haras , there existed in Hor- 
mandy a race of Horses which for many years furnished carriage 
animals to the great lords of olden time. These were of Danish 
origin ; but the present race is the result of a cross between the 
Horman or Danish mares and the English thorough-bred, the 
results show the characteristics of both stocks. They are bred 
in two districts in Hormandy : one the plain of Caen, comprising 
the grassy meadows of Calvados and La Manche ; the other is 
situated in that part of the Department of Orne which bears the 
