i, Incisor teeth. g, Grinding teeth, with the gap between the two
as in all grass-feeders. k, Knee. h, Hock or heel. f, Foot. s,
Splints or remains of the two lost toes. e, Elbow. w, Wrist. h,
Hand-bone. t, Middle toe of three joints, 1, 2, 3 forming the
hoof.]
Meanwhile during these long succeeding ages while the foot was
lengthening out into a slender limb the animals became larger, more
powerful, and more swift, the neck and head became longer and more
graceful, the brain-case larger in front and the teeth decreased in
number, so that there is now a large gap between the biting teeth and
the grinding teeth of a horse. Their slender limbs too became more
flexible and fit for running and galloping, till we find the whole
skeleton the same in shape, though not in size, as in our own horses
and asses now.
They did not, however, during all this time remain confined to
America, for, from the time when they arrived at an animal called
_Miohippus_, or lesser horse, which came after the Mesohippus and had
only three toes on each foot, we find their remains in Europe, where
they lived in company with the giraffes, opossums, and monkeys which
roamed over these parts in those ancient times. Then a little later we
find them in Africa and India; so that the horse tribe, represented by
creatures about as large as donkeys, had spread far and wide over the
world.
And now, curiously enough, they began to forsake, or to die out in,
the land of their birth. Why they did so we do not know; but while in
the old world as asses, quaggas, and zebras, and probably horses, they
flourished in Asia, Europe, and Africa, they certainly died out in
America, so that ages afterwards, when that land was discovered, no
animal of the horse tribe was found in it.
And the true horse, where did he arise? Born and bred probably in
Central Asia from some animal like the "Kulan," or the "Kertag," he
proved too useful to savage tribes to be allowed his freedom, and it
is doubtful whether in any part of the world he escaped subjection. In
our own country he probably roamed as a wild animal till the savages,
who fed upon him, learned in time to put him to work; and when the
Romans came they found the Britons with fine and well-trained horses.
Yet though tamed and made to know his master, he has, as we have seen,
broken loose again in almost all parts of the world--in American on
the prairies and pampas, in Europe and Asia on the steppes, and in
Australia in the bush. And even in Great Britain, where so few patches
of uncultivated land still remain, the young colts of Dartmoor,
Exmoor, and Shetland, though born of domesticated mothers, seems to
assert their descent from wild and free ancestors as they throw out
their heels and toss up their heads with a shrill neigh, and fly
against the wind with streaming manes and outstretched tails as the
Kulan, the Tarpan, and the Zebra do in the wild desert or grassy
plain.
[Illustration]
NOTES
ALLEN, GRANT, English scientist and man of letters; born
1848, died 1899. Was born in Canada, and passed his boyhood there.
Educated in France and at Oxford University. He wrote "Physiological
AEsthetics," "Vignettes from Nature," "The Evolutionist at Large,"
"Force and Energy," many scientific papers in periodicals, and some
fiction. "Strange Stories," "The Reverend John Creedy," "Philistia,"
"The British Barbarians" among others.
BELT, T. G., an English traveller of the nineteenth century,
best known by his book, "The Naturalist in Nicaragua."
BLATCHLEY, W. S., American naturalist and geologist, born
1859. Has taken part in many important geological surveys, and is
State geologist of Indiana. Among his writings are "Gleanings from
Nature," and many important highly technical contributions to State
scientific publications.
BRUNER, L., American professor of entomology and ornithology
at the University of Nebraska, born 1566. Is the State entomologist of
Nebraska. Has written "An Introduction to the Study of Entomology,"
and some papers on the locusts of Argentina, as well as many technical
scientific reports in State papers, etc.
BURROUGHS, JOHN, American essayist, born 1837. Has written
much on nature observation. Among his books are "Wake Robin," "Winter
Sunshine," "Birds and Poets," "Pepacton," "Fresh Fields," "Signs and
Seasons," etc. He was at first a school teacher, then a clerk of the
treasury, then a national bank examiner, and he now lives on a farm,
devoting himself to literature and fruit culture.
HOPLEY, MRS. C. C., an English author who lived much in
America, and made a special study of "Snakes," on which subject she
wrote a great deal. Her book entitled "Snakes" is the most important
record of her work.
HUXLEY, T. H., Famous English biologist, born 1825; died
1895. Was assistant surgeon in the navy, then professor of natural
history, rector of Aberdeen University, and president of the Royal
Society. Among his books are, "Evidences as to Man's Place in Nature,"
"Comparative Anatomy," "Lay Sermons," "Critiques and Addresses,"
"Physiography," "The Crayfish," "Science and Culture," "Evolution and
Ethics," "The Anatomy of Invertebrate Animals," etc.
JEFFERIES, RICHARD, born near Swindon, Wiltshire, Nov. 6,
1848; died Aug. 14, 1887. A naturalist whose fascinating writings were
recognized as classics only after his death. Among his most popular
books are, "The Gamekeeper at Home" (1878), "Wild Life in a Southern
Country" (1879), "The Amateur Poacher" (1880), "Round About a Great
Estate" (1881), "Nature Near London," and "The Story of My Heart"
(1883), "Red Deer" (1884), and "The Open Air" (1885).
JORDAN, DAVID STARR, President Leland Stanford, Jr.,
University; born Gainesville, N.Y., Jan. 19, 1851; graduated Cornell
M. S., 1872; M. D. Indiana Medical College, 1875; (Ph.D. Butler
University, 1878; LL.D. Cornell University, 1886). Held chairs in
various collegiate institutions, 1872-79; assistant to U. S. Fish
Commission, 1877-91; professor of zooelogy 1879-85, and president
1885-91, Indiana University; president Leland Stanford Jr.,
University since 1891; president California Academy of Sciences
1896-98; also U. S. Commissioner in charge of fur-seal investigations,
etc. Author: "A Manual of Vertebrate Animals of Northern United
States," "Science Sketches," "Fishes of North and Middle America"
(4 vols.); "Footnotes to Evolution," "Matka and Kotik," "Care and Culture
of Men," "The Innumerable Company," "Imperial Democracy," "Animal
Life," "Animal Forms," "The Strength of Being Clean," "Standeth God
within the Shadow," also numerous papers on Ichthyology, in procedures
of various societies and government bureaus.
MAETERLINK, MAURICE, Belgian dramatist and poet, born 1864.
He began early to write plays, which were translated into English and
represented in London. He has written "Le Tresor des Humbles,"
"Aglavaine and Selysette," "Pelleas and Melisande," "The Intruder,"
"Princess Maleine," "Wisdom and Destiny." He has been called the
"Belgian Shakespeare."
MORLEY, MARGARET W., author and teacher, born 1858. Has
taught in New York State and in the West. She is the author of "A Song
of Life," "Life and Love," "A Few Familiar Flowers," "Flowers and
their Friends," "The Bee People," "The Honey Makers," "Seed Babies,"
"Little Wanderers," "Wasps and their Ways," etc.
THOREAU, HENRY DAVID, born at Concord, Mass., July 12, 1817;
died May 6, 1862. After his graduation from Harvard, in 1837, he
helped his father make lead pencils. In 1839 he began his careful
studies on nature, and made a voyage on the Concord and Merrimac
Rivers described in his first book. His most popular work, "Walden, or
Life in the Woods," was published in 1854. After his death several
volumes were made up from his voluminous diaries. His collected
writings, in ten volumes, were published in 1893.
WALLACE, A. R., noted English naturalist and traveller, born
1822. Was educated as a land surveyor, but turned his attention
exclusively to natural history. He explored the valleys of the Amazon
and Rio Negro, travelled in the Malay Archipelago and Papua. He and
Darwin both announced together the theory of natural selection. He
wrote "Travels on the Amazon," "Palm Trees of the Amazon," "The Malay
Archipelago," "Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection,"
"Geographical Distribution of Animals," "Tropical Nature," "Island
Life," etc.
WILSON, A., English physiologist, lecturer, and journalist,
born 1852. Educated Edinburgh University and Medical School. Has
written much on popular physiology in the newspapers and magazines. Is
the author of "Studies on Life," "Leisure Time Studies," "Science
Stories," "Chapters on Evolution," "Leaves from a Naturalist's Note
Book," "Wild Animals," "Elements of Zooelogy," etc.
NATURAL HISTORY
SUGGESTIONS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Days Out of Doors
CHARLES C. ABBOTT
First Lessons in Zooelogy
ELIZABETH C. AGASSIZ
Birds of America
JOHN J. AUDUBON
My Land and Water Friends
M. E. BAMFORD
Locusts and Wild Honey
JOHN BURROUGHS
Woodlands
MORDECAI C. COOK
A Year Among the Birds
WILSON FLAGG
The Out Door World
W. FURNEAUX
The Great World's Farm
SELINA GAYE
Monsters of the Sea
Chips from the Earth's Crust
J. GIBSON
Sharp Eyes
WILLIAM H. GIBSON
Practical Forestry
JOHN GIFFORD
Along the Florida Reefs
CHARLES F. HOLDER
About Pebbles
ALPHEUS HYATT
Country Cousins
ERNEST INGERSOLL
History of a Mouthful of Bread
JEAN MACE
Under Foot
L. D. NICHOLLS
Underground Treasures
JAMES ORTON
Among the Night People
C. D. PIERSON
Ethics of the Dust
JOHN RUSKIN
The Sea Children
WALTER RUSSELL
Aspects of the Earth
NATHANIEL S. SHALER
The Vacation Club
ADA J. TODD
The Complete Angler
IZAAK WALTON
Half Hours in Field and Forest
Half Hours with a Naturalist
J. G. WOOD