_THE HORSE TRIBE._
----
ZEBRAS AND WILD ASSES.
BY F. C. SELOUS.
----
ZEBRAS.
The Zebras have many points in common with the asses, from which latter
group of animals they are principally distinguished by their beautifully
striped skins. Both asses and zebras carry short, erect manes, and in both
the upper portion of the tail is free from long hair. In both groups there
are naked callosities on the fore legs only, whilst the head is larger in
proportion to the size of the animal, and the ears longer than in the
horse. In BURCHELL'S and GREVY'S ZEBRAS the hoof is intermediate between
that of the horse and the ass; for although narrower than the hoof of the
horse, it is broader and more rounded than that of the ass. In the TRUE
ZEBRA, however, the hoof is thoroughly asinine in character, and the ears
very long.
[Illustration: _Photo by G. W. Wilson & Co., Ltd._] [_Aberdeen._
MOUNTAIN-ZEBRA.
The true or mountain zebra is now becoming scarcer than formerly. At one
time it was to be seen in great numbers on the mountains of Cape Colony.]
The TRUE or MOUNTAIN ZEBRA appears never to have had a very extended range.
It was once an inhabitant of all the mountainous regions of the Cape Colony
as well as of the great Drakensberg Range, and fifty years ago was also
found amongst the rugged hills of Great Namaqualand. The mountain-zebra is
the smallest of the group, standing only from 12 to 12½ hands at the
shoulder. It is a most beautiful animal, the whole of the head, body, and
limbs, with the exception of the under-parts and the insides of the thighs,
being striped. The ground-colour of the body is white, the stripes being
black and the muzzle bright brown. Both hind and fore legs are banded down
to the hoofs. The stripes on the neck and body are narrower and more
numerous than in Burchell's zebra, and on the hindquarters the median
stripe, which runs down the centre of the back from the mane to the tail,
is connected with the uppermost of the oblique longitudinal stripes by a
series of short horizontal bars. The ears in this species are much larger
than in Burchell's zebra.
[Illustration: _Photo by W. P. Dando_] [_Regent's Park._
GREVY'S ZEBRA.
This species of zebra comes from the Galla country, and has narrower and
more numerous stripes than the mountain-zebra.]
The true zebra seems never to have been an inhabitant of the plains, like
all its congeners, but to have confined its range entirely to mountainous
districts. Speaking on this point, Captain (afterwards Sir) Cornwallis
Harris wrote upwards of sixty years ago: "This beautiful and wary animal
never of its own free will descends into the plain, as erroneously asserted
by all naturalists, and it therefore never herds with either of its
congeners, the quagga and Burchell's zebra, whose habitat is equally
limited to the open and level lowlands. Seeking the wildest and most
sequestered spots, the haughty troops are exceedingly difficult of
approach, as well on account of their watchful habits and extreme agility
and fleetness of foot, as from the abrupt and inaccessible nature of their
highland abode."
An allied species, of which examples have been obtained by Mr. G. W.
Penrice, occurs in Benguela, Portuguese West Africa.
I once saw the carcase of a zebra stallion which had been sent by rail to
the Cape Town Museum by a farmer living in the neighbourhood of the village
of Worcester. This animal had come down from the mountains, and joined a
troop of donkeys running on the farm. Its intrusion was, however, resented
by a male donkey, which fought with and overpowered it, and, having seized
it with its teeth by the back of the neck, held it fast until it was
secured by the farmer and his men. The captured animal, however, refused
food, and soon died, when its carcase was sent to the Cape Museum for
preservation.
GREVY'S ZEBRA is the largest and perhaps the handsomest of all the zebras.
This fine animal is an inhabitant of Eastern Africa, its range extending
from the central portion of Somaliland southwards to the Tana River. It
appears to be plentiful in the country between Mount Kenia and Lake
Rudolph, but has not, I believe, been met with to the west of that lake.
Full-grown specimens of Grevy's zebra will stand from 14½ to 15 hands at
the shoulder, with a girth of body immediately behind the shoulders of
nearly 5 feet. The arrangement of the stripes in this species differs
considerably both from that of the mountain-zebra of the Cape Colony and
also from Burchell's zebra. The body-stripes are very narrow, numerous, and
deep black in colour, and are separated by equally narrow white bands. The
longitudinal stripes on the haunches are also shorter and finer than in any
other species of zebra, and on the top of the quarters there is a white
unstriped space on each side of the median line which runs down the centre
of the back from the neck to the tail. The belly and insides of the thighs
are white, and the legs banded right down to the hoofs as in the
mountain-zebra, and the ears are as large as in that species.
[Illustration: _Photo by Percy Ashenden._
BURCHELL'S ZEBRA AT HOME.
This excellent photograph was taken in South Africa, and shows these
animals in their native state.]
Grevy's zebra is, as a rule, an inhabitant of open or thinly wooded
country, and it appears to avoid anything in the nature of thick cover. In
Central Somaliland Major Swayne met with it on low plateaux some 2,500 feet
above sea-level, the sides of which fell in broken ravines to the
river-valleys. This country is described as broken and hilly, and here
Grevy's zebras were met with in small droves of about half a dozen. In the
country between Mount Kenia and Lake Rudolph, Mr. A. H. Neumann frequently
met with herds of Grevy's and Burchell's zebras consorting together. The
contrast between the two species when thus seen side by side was very
marked, the former animals looking like horses among a flock of ponies. Mr.
Neumann never observed stallions of the two species fighting together, but
on the other hand he states that the stallions of the larger species fight
viciously amongst themselves for possession of the mares. Grevy's zebras
seem never to collect in large herds, more than twenty, or at the outside
thirty, being very seldom seen together.
[Illustration: _Photo by J. T. Newman_] [_Berkhamsted._
THE HON. WALTER ROTHSCHILD'S TEAM OF ZEBRAS.
Mr. Rothschild was practically the first Englishman to break in zebras to
harness. At one time these animals were thought to be quite untamable.]
Although this species is an inhabitant of arid plains and bare stony hills
where the herbage is short, it requires to drink daily, and is never
therefore found at any great distance from water.
The cry of Grevy's zebra is stated to be quite different from that of
Burchell's. Mr. Neumann describes it as a very hoarse kind of grunt, varied
by something approaching to a whistle, the grunts being long drawn out, and
divided by the shrill whistling sound, as if the latter were made by
drawing in the breath which had been expelled during the sustained grunt.
Like all other species of the genus to which they belong, Grevy's zebras,
especially the mares when in foal, become very fat at certain seasons of
the year, and their flesh is much appreciated both by natives and lions,
the latter preying on them and their smaller congeners, Burchell's zebras,
in preference to any other animal, now that the rinderpest has almost
exterminated the great herds of buffalo which once roamed in countless
numbers all over East Central Africa.
BURCHELL'S ZEBRA once inhabited the whole of South-western, South-eastern,
Central, and Eastern Africa from the Orange River to Lake Rudolph; and
though it has long ceased to exist in the more southerly portions of its
range, it is still the most numerous and the best known of all the species
of zebra.
[Illustration: _Photo by Charles Reid, Wishaw, N.B._
HIGHLAND CATTLE.
These magnificent cattle are bred in large numbers in the Scottish
Highlands, whence they are brought to the richer pastures of England to
fatten for the market.]
The typical form of this species was first met with early last century by
Dr. Burchell in Southern Bechuanaland. In this form the legs are white
below the knees and hocks, and the body-stripes do not join the median
stripe of the belly. In examples met with farther north the legs are
striped down to the hoofs and the body-stripes join the belly-stripe. South
of the Zambesi all forms of Burchell's zebra seem to have faint markings,
known as shadow-stripes, on the pale yellow ground-colour of the spaces
between the broad black stripes. North of the Zambesi varieties are met
with in which these shadow-stripes are wanting. As, however, the
differences between all the various sub-species of Burchell's zebra are
superficial and not structural, and as, moreover, the habits of these
animals seem to be the same in every part of their widely extended range, I
shall henceforth speak of them as one species.
Burchell's zebra is without the small horizontal bars on the hindquarters,
which in the mountain-zebra connect the dorsal stripe with the uppermost of
the broad longitudinal bands running across the flanks. Its ears, too, are
smaller than in the latter species, and its mane fuller. In size Burchell's
zebra is intermediate between the mountain-zebra and Grevy's zebra,
standing from thirteen to thirteen and a half hands at the shoulder.
[Illustration: _By permission of Mr. William Cross_] [_Liverpool._
BURCHELL'S ZEBRA, CHAPMAN'S VARIETY.
This zebra is one of several trained in Mr. Cross's well-known
establishment at Liverpool. Mr. Cross has been very successful in breaking
in zebras, and is frequently to be seen driving a pair about Liverpool.]
Where they have not been shot down, Burchell's zebras often live in large
herds of from fifty to over a hundred together. I have met with them almost
at the level of the sea, as in the Pungwe district of South-east Africa,
and all over the high plateaux of the interior up to a height of 5,000 feet
above sea-level. They are partial to sparsely forested country intersected
by open glades, but also frequent open plains entirely devoid of trees or
bush, having been once numerous on the open downs of the Western Transvaal
and Orange River Colony. They never live in dense jungle, but I have met
with them frequently amongst broken rugged hills. Burchell's zebras are
both fleet and enduring, but I have often galloped right amongst a herd of
them when mounted on a fast horse, and in good ground. In broken, hilly,
and stony ground, however, no horse can live with a Burchell's zebra. The
hoofs of this species seem made for running in rocky ground, being deeply
hollowed and as hard as iron.
I have always found the presence of Burchell's zebras a sure indication
that water was not far distant, and it is my experience that these animals
require to drink daily, and never wander more than a few miles away from
the pool or river they frequent.
[Illustration: _Photo by York & Son_] [_Notting Hill._
MARE AND FOAL OF BURCHELL'S ZEBRA.
These animals breed regularly in captivity.]
This species of zebra may often be seen in Southern Africa in company with
other animals, such as buffaloes, blue wildebeests, elands, gemsbucks, roan
and sassaby antelopes, and ostriches, and I have upon several occasions
seen them come up to domestic cattle and horses. They are naturally not
very wary, and in parts of the country where they have not been much
molested are often very inquisitive, and will come trotting quite close up
to a caravan, provided they do not get the scent of human beings. Foals of
this species are easily caught, and become at once very tame and confiding;
nor do I believe that adult Burchell's zebras are such vicious animals as
is generally supposed, since I have seen several which were very quiet and
well broken, whilst even the half-broken animals, which were at one time
used on one of the coach-lines in the Transvaal, did not appear very
vicious.
As with Grevy's zebra, the flesh of the species under consideration is much
appreciated both by natives and lions. I have often seen the fat on the
quarters of the mares quite an inch thick. It is of a dark yellow colour,
and too rich to suit the stomach of a European. The meat is rather sweet in
taste, but if fried with bacon not at all unpalatable.
[Illustration: _Photo by Norman B. Smith, Esq._
BURCHELL'S ZEBRA.
This species is occasionally domesticated and driven in South Africa, as it
is not injured by the tsetse fly.]
Professor Ewart has lately carried out a very interesting series of
experiments on the hybridising of zebras and horses. The results were very
satisfactory. The zebra cross proved to be very hardy creatures, capable of
wintering in the open on the hills of Scotland. The scientific data
obtained were of singular value, as showing the effect of crossbreeding on
subsequent generations of foals of the same mother. It has long been
believed that the influence of the first sire was seen in foals of which
other animals were subsequently the fathers. Thus, if a white mare threw a
foal to a black stallion, it was considered that her subsequent progeny
would occasionally be black, and instances were freely quoted to support
this theory. The scientific name of "telegony" was given to this supposed
influence of previous sires on future offspring. Professor Ewart's
experiments, in which pony mares were first mated with a zebra and
afterwards with horses, show that this theory of telegony is erroneous. The
foals sired afterwards by ponies and horses showed no trace whatever of
zebra stripes, but were normal pony foals, and not altered either in shape
or disposition.
The QUAGGA, which became extinct about thirty years ago, never had a very
extended range, but in the early part of the last century it existed in
great numbers on all the upland plains of the Cape Colony to the west of
the Kei River, and in the open treeless country lying between the Orange
and Vaal Rivers. North of the Vaal it appears to have been unknown.
[Illustration: _Photo by Percy Ashenden._
ZEBRAS ON TABLE MOUNTAIN.
Another South African photograph. Notice Cape Town in the far distance.]
[Illustration: _Photo by York & Son_] [_Notting Hill._
QUAGGA.
This is, we believe, the only known photograph from life of this very rare
animal. There will probably never be another, for the quagga is generally
supposed to be extinct.]
The quagga seems to have been nearly allied to Burchell's zebra--especially
to the most southerly form of that species--but was much darker in general
colour, being of a dark rufous brown on the neck and upper-parts of the
body, becoming lighter on the sides, and fading off to white beneath and
behind. Instead of being striped, too, over the whole body, it was only
strongly banded on the head and neck, the dark brown stripes becoming
fainter on the shoulders and dying away in spots and blotches. On the other
hand, in size and build, in the appearance of its mane, ears, and tail, and
in general habits, it seems to have nearly resembled its handsomer
relative. The barking neigh "qu[=a]-h[=a]-h[=a], qu[=a]-h[=a]-h[=a]" seems,
too, to have been the same in both species. The word "quagga" is pronounced
in South Africa "qu[=a]-h[=a]," and is of Hottentot origin, being an
imitation of the animal's neighing call. To-day Burchell's zebras are
invariably called Qu[=a]-h[=a]s by both Boers and British colonists.
WILD ASSES.
The true asses are without stripes on the head, neck, and body, with the
exception of a dark streak down the back from the mane to the tail, which
is present in all members of the group, and in some cases a dark band
across the shoulders and irregular markings on the legs.
In Africa the wild ass is only found in the desert regions of the
north-eastern portion of that continent, being an inhabitant of Abyssinia,
Somaliland, Gallaland, the Soudan, and the arid districts bordering the Red
Sea. The form of wild ass found in Somaliland differs in some respects from
its near relative of the Nubian Desert, in that it is of a paler colour,
has the dorsal stripe but faintly marked, and is without a cross stripe
over the shoulders, whilst on the other hand it has numerous markings both
on the front and hind legs. Naturalists are, however, agreed that, although
there may be certain small differences in the colour and markings of the
wild asses found in different localities of Northern Africa, such
variations are of no specific value, and only one species is recognised.
The AFRICAN WILD ASS is a fine animal, standing between 13 and 14 hands at
the shoulder. It lives in small herds or families of four or five
individuals, and is not found in mountainous districts, but frequents low
stony hills and arid desert-wastes. It is as a general rule an alert animal
and difficult to approach, and so fleet and enduring that, excepting in the
case of foals and mares heavy in young, it cannot be overtaken even by a
well-mounted horseman. Notwithstanding the scanty nature of the herbage in
the districts they frequent, these desert-bred asses are always in good
condition. They travel long distances to water at night, but appear to
require to drink regularly. Their flesh is eaten by the natives of the
Soudan. The bray of the African wild ass is said to be indistinguishable
from that of the domesticated animal, which latter is undoubtedly descended
from the wild African breed.
In Asia three varieties of the wild ass are found, which were formerly
believed to represent three distinct species; but since the points of
difference between these varying forms do not appear to be of specific
value, all the local races of the Asiatic wild ass are now considered to
belong to one species.
These wild asses have a wide range, and are met with in the deserts of Asia
from Syria to Persia and Western India, and northwards throughout the more
arid portions of Central Asia.
In Tibet and Mongolia the wild ass inhabits the high mountain-plateaux, and
lives at elevations of 14,000 feet and upwards above the sea. This local
race, known as the KIANG, approaches in size to the African wild ass,
standing 13 hands at the shoulder. It is dark reddish brown in colour, with
a very narrow dorsal stripe. The ONAGER of Western India and Baluchistan is
a smaller and lighter-coloured animal, with a broader stripe down the back.
In parts of its range it is found at sea-level. In Persia and Syria a third
local race of wild ass is found, which, however, differs from the two forms
already enumerated in no essential particular.
Like their African congeners, the wild asses of Asia are inhabitants of the
waste places of the earth, frequenting desert plains and wind-swept
steppes. They are said to be so fleet and enduring that, except in the case
of a mare heavy with foal, they cannot be overtaken by a single horseman.
[Illustration: _Photo by J. W. McLellan_] [_Highbury._
BALUCHI WILD ASS.
This is one of the three leading varieties of the Asiatic wild ass. It is
found in Western India and Baluchistan.]
The wild asses of the desert plains of India and Persia are said to be very
wary and difficult to approach, but the kiang of Tibet is always spoken of
as a much more confiding animal, its curiosity being so great that it will
frequently approach to within a short distance of any unfamiliar object,
such as a sportsman engaged in stalking other game.
Asiatic wild asses usually live in small families of four or five, but
sometimes congregate in herds. Their food consists of various grasses in
the low-lying portions of their range, but of woody plants on the high
mountain-plateaux, where little else is to be obtained. Of wild asses in
general the late Sir Samuel Baker once said: "Those who have seen donkeys
only in their civilised state can have no conception of the wild or
original animal; it is the perfection of activity and courage."
[Illustration: _Photo by the Duchess of Bedford_] [_Woburn Abbey._
MALE KIANG.
The kiang comes from the Tibetan highlands. It is the largest and most
horse-like of the wild asses of Asia.]
DOMESTICATED HORSE, ASSES, AND MULES.
BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S.
----
THE DOMESTICATED HORSE.
Like the wild camels, genuine wild horses are very generally believed to be
extinct. The vast herds which occur to-day in a wild state in Europe,
America, and Australia are to be regarded, say those who believe in the
extinction theory, as descended from domesticated animals which have run
wild. So far as the American and Australian horses are concerned, this is
no doubt true; but of the European stocks it is by no means so certain. For
Dr. Nehring--and he speaks with authority--assures us that the wild horses
known as TARPANS, which occur on the steppes north of the Sea of Azoff,
between the river Dnieper and the Caspian, are veritable wild horses, the
last remaining members of enormous herds which occurred in Europe before
the dawn of civilisation. These horses formed no small part of the food of
the savage races of men then inhabiting this continent. This we know
because of the quantities of their remains found in the caves of the south
of France, for instance, associated with the remains of the men who hunted
them. Further evidence of this we have in the shape of crude engravings on
pieces of bone and deer horns, carved by the more artistic spirits amongst
these early hunters. From these drawings we gather that the horse they
hunted was small in size and heavy in build, with a large head and rough,
shaggy mane and tail--a horse, in fact, almost identical with the
above-mentioned tarpan. But long before historic records begin these horses
must have been domesticated; man discovered that they could be even more
useful alive than dead, and from that time forth the horse became his
inseparable companion. "Cæsar found the Ancient Britons and Germans using
war-chariots drawn by horses."
But the stock of domestic horses drawn from this tarpan breed appears to
have died out almost entirely, the majority of horses now existing being
probably descendants of the native wild horses of Asia, the product of a
still earlier domestication. In Egypt the horse, as a domestic animal,
seems to have been preceded by the ass; but about 1900 B.C. it begins to
appear in the rôle of a war-horse, to draw chariots. Its use, indeed, until
the Middle Ages was almost universally as a war-horse.
From the time of its domestication till to-day the history of the horse has
been one of progress. The care and forethought of the breeder have produced
many varieties, resulting in such extremes as the London Dray-horse, the
Racer, and the Shetland Pony.
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
YEARLING ARAB COLTS.
Note the colts examining the photographer's bag. They are very inquisitive
creatures, but easily frightened.]
The coloration of our various breeds of horses is generally without any
definite marking, piebald and dappled being the nearest approach to a
pattern. Occasionally, however, horses are found with a dark stripe along
the back, and sometimes with dark stripes on the shoulders and legs.
Darwin, discovering a number of horses so marked belonging to different
breeds, came to the conclusion that probably all existing races of horses
were descended from a "single dun-coloured, more or less striped primitive
stock, to which [stock] our horses occasionally revert."
"If we were not so habituated to the sight of the horse," says the late Sir
William Flower, "as hardly ever to consider its structure, we should
greatly marvel at being told of a mammal so strangely constructed that it
had but a single toe on each extremity, on the end of the nail of which it
walked or galloped. Such a conformation is without parallel in the
vertebrate series." By the aid of fossils we can trace out all the stages
through which this wonderful foot has passed in arriving at its present
state of perfection: we can see how it has become more and more beautifully
adapted to fulfil the requirement demanded--a firm support to enable its
owner to cover hard ground at great speed. The study of the structure of
this foot, and a comparison with the intermediate forms, make it clear that
this toe corresponds to the third finger or toe of the human hand or
foot--according as we compare the fore or hind limbs--and that its
development was at the expense of the remaining toes, which gradually
dwindled and disappeared, leaving in the living one-toed horse only traces
of the second and fourth toes in the shape of a pair of splint-bones, one
on either side of the excessively developed third toe.
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
ARAB MARE.
Nothing would induce this horse to stand still in order to be photographed;
so as a last resource Lady Anne Blunt put on her Arab costume. This acted
like magic, for under its spell the animal at once became quiet.]
The horses, it must be remarked, may be distinguished from the asses by the
fact that the tail in the former is clothed with long hair throughout; in
the latter long hair springs only from the sides and end, forming a tuft.
Furthermore, the horses have a remarkable horny excrescence, resembling a
huge black and flattened wart, on each hind leg just below the "hock," or
heel-joint. This excrescence is commonly known as the "chestnut." Its
function is unknown. A similar pair of "chestnuts" occurs on the inner side
of the fore limb just above the wrist, or "knee," as it is generally
called. The "chestnuts" of the fore limb occur also in the asses, but not
those of the hind limb.
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
ARAB MARES AND FOALS.
A pretty group of some of Lady Anne Blunt's famous Arabs.]
THE ARAB HORSE.
This magnificent and justly celebrated animal is chosen first for
consideration because it is probably a direct descendant of an original
wild breed--the Asiatic wild horse. How far back the domestication of this
breed began will probably never be exactly known. Till the third century
after Christ the Arabs were almost certainly camel-riders; but by the sixth
century of our era we find them in possession of a breed of horses which
they regarded with great reverence, and spoke of as an heritage from their
forefathers. They were probably introduced from the Caucasus or Asia Minor.
The Arab horse found its way into Europe, perhaps accompanied by an allied
breed--the Barb--with the Arab invasion of Spain in the eighth and ninth
centuries, leaving traces of its sojourn in the Andalusian and the French
Limousin. But the great value of Arab blood was not appreciated till armour
ceased to be used, the excessive weight of this demanding a horse of heavy
build.
The Arab does not appear to have been introduced into England till the
seventeenth century; but the result of that introduction, as we shall see
presently, has been fraught with tremendous consequences. In its native
land it appears to have been bred chiefly for the purposes of warfare. The
success with which the breeders' judicious selection has been rewarded is
plainly seen in the wonderful powers of endurance on long marches; so that,
at the end of a raid, the animal is still fresh enough either for flight,
if necessary, or for a final rush on a retreating enemy. Besides, Arabs
possess great courage, and are frugal both in the matter of food and drink.
As a race-horse, one enthusiast assures us, the Arab is superior to every
other natural breed; he is beaten only by his own half-breed offspring--the
English Race-horse. But this seems to be rather an over-estimate.
[Illustration: _Photo by the Duchess of Bedford_] [_Woburn Abbey._
PERCHERON HORSE.
A Continental breed. This horse is believed to be the only one of its kind
in England.]
The colour of the Arab varies; white is the most highly esteemed, but bay
and chestnut are common, black being rare. Strange as it may seem, the
white breed is never born white.
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
HACKNEY AND FOAL.
A specimen of the English carriage-horse.]
The great affection of the Arab for his horse is proverbial. The following
story is certainly worth repeating: "The whole stock of an Arab of the
desert consisted of a mare. The French Consul offered to purchase her, in
order to send her to his sovereign, Louis XIV. The Arab would have rejected
the proposal; but being miserably poor, with scarcely a rag to cover him,
his wife and children starving, he was tempted greatly. At length he
yielded. He brought the mare to the consul's house, and stood leaning on
her neck, and looking, now at the gold, and now at the horse. The gold was
good to look upon; it would make him rich for life. Turning at last to his
favourite, he said: 'To whom is it I am going to yield thee up? To
Europeans, who will tie thee close, who will beat thee, who will make thee
miserable. Return with me, my beauty, my jewel, and rejoice the hearts of
my children.' At the last of these words he sprang upon her back, and was
in a few moments out of sight."
THE BARB.
This is an African breed, which, like the generality of African horses, is
distinguished from those of Asia by its long limbs and small girth at the
loins, thus resembling the foals of other breeds. It displays great powers
of enduring hunger and thirst; and is fleet, with a high and graceful
action. The barb takes its name from its native land--Barbary. It is a
larger breed than the Arab.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. Reid_] [_Wishaw, N.B._
LADAS.
A perfect English thoroughbred. With this racer Lord Rosebery won the Derby
in 1894.]
LEVANT AND PERSIAN HORSES.
These are very closely allied to the Arab, but generally of larger size;
and in Southern Persia, at least, less delicately framed. The Turkoman
horses are related to those of Northern Persia.
THE ENGLISH RACE-HORSE.
This animal is the product of very careful selection and gradual
improvement of an original native breed, extending over several centuries.
Long since, so long ago as the reign of James I., it had reached a high
degree of excellence.
Upon this native stock there has been built up, by the infusion of Arab
blood, the swiftest horse which the world has ever known--the BRITISH
THOROUGHBRED. "Of this breed, it may be stated," says Mr. Allison, "that
every such animal in the stud-book of the present day, in this country or
any other, descends ... from one of three original Eastern sires--the
Darley Arabian, the Byerley Turk, or the Godolphin Arabian." This is an
extremely interesting fact, and constitutes a lasting monument to the
enterprise and acumen of the British horse-breeder.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. Reid_] [_Wishaw, N.B._
FLORIZEL II.
One of the King's racing-stud.]
The Byerley Turk hailed from the Levant, and was introduced by Captain
Byerley about 1689. From the Byerley Turk came Herod, the most celebrated
of his descendants, who has given rise to the Herod line, which to-day is
but feebly represented.
The Godolphin Arabian, or the Godolphin Barb, was born about 1724. From his
grandson Matchem is derived the Matchem line, which is also to-day
bordering on extinction.
The Darley Arabian carries us back to the reign of Queen Anne. Flying
Childers and Bartlett's Childers are directly descended from him; and from
the latter is descended Eclipse, the fastest horse which the turf has ever
known. It is interesting to note that the descendants in the Eclipse line
enormously outnumber those of the other two lines which we have considered.
Of his descendants, one of the most illustrious is Stockwell, who has been
described as the most extraordinary sire of all time, whose blood is coming
more than ever to the front.
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
SHETLAND PONY AND FOAL.
These ponies belong to Lady Mary Hope and her sister, who have been very
successful in breeding them.]
THE TROTTING-HORSE.
This is an American breed. The trotting-horse is a combination of barb and
Arab on an English stock. Most of the trotting- and pacing-horses of
America may be traced to an English thoroughbred--Messenger--who was
imported into America in 1780. This horse became the founder of the
greatest trotting family in the world. The speed attained by some of the
fastest trotters is wonderful, a mile being covered in some three or four
seconds over two minutes.
Russia is the only European country with a distinct breed of trotter--the
ORLOFF. This breed was made by crossing Arab and English horses with the
native races. The Orloff has not the speed of the American horse, but has
greater powers of endurance. The trotting-season in Russia is winter, the
races taking place on the ice.
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
CHAMPION SHIRE STALLION.
One of Sir Walter Gilbey's celebrated cart-horses.]
The PACER is not a distinct breed, but so called on account of its curious
method of trotting. In trotting the left fore and right hind leg strike the
ground at the same moment; in pacing the fore and hind leg of the _same
side_ move in unison. Some wild animals--as the giraffe--are pacers. "Many
American horses," says Mr. Winans, "are able to move with either action, a
set of lighter shoes often sufficing to convert a trotter into a pacer."
Pacing is a swifter mode of motion than trotting. The record time stands at
one mile in 1 minute 39½ seconds, as again the trotting record of one mile
in 2 minutes 3¾ seconds.
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
SHIRE MARE AND FOAL.
Another of Sir Walter Gilbey's champion cart-horses showing mother and
young.]
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
WELSH PONY.
This photograph shows the Duchess of Newcastle with one of her white Welsh
ponies.]
[Illustration: _Photo by C. Reid_] [_Wishaw, N.B._
POLO-PONY.
Various breeds of ponies are used in this game, but the most esteemed at
the present day are the English-bred New Forest, Dartmoor, or Exmoor, or
Welsh ponies.]
THE HUNTER.
This also is not a distinct breed, as some suppose. Any good riding-horse
may be used as a hunter. "Hunters" have been made by infusing the blood of
the race-horse with native breeds. The chief requirements are a muscular
neck and chest, with a rather short body, and shorter and stouter legs than
the race-horse.
From the half-bred hunter we pass by insensible gradation to the ordinary
saddle- and carriage-horses. The ideal carriage-horse, however, is more of
a distinct breed than the hunter, and known as the CLEVELAND BAY. It has
been produced by mingling the blood of the thoroughbred with that of a
horse of stouter make than that of the hunter type.
The record broad jump for the hunter, we might mention in passing, is
variously stated to be from 33 to 37 feet!
[Illustration: _Photo by. T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
DONKEY.
This is a typical English coster's donkey, and won the first prize at the
Southwark Show.]
THE SHETLAND PONY.
This is a native of the Shetland Islands, and remarkable for its small
size, docility, and hardihood. It is allowed to run nearly wild, and made
to forage almost entirely for itself. In the winter it grows a coat of
great length, which, soon becoming matted, forms a most effective
protection against cold and wet. The DARTMOOR, EXMOOR, and NEW FOREST are
likewise small breeds, but lack the symmetry and beauty of the Shetland.
CART-HORSES.
Under this head are included all the large, heavily built draught-horses.
These are of European origin, and without intermixture of foreign--Asiatic
or African--blood. In England the most important breeds are the BLACK or
SHIRE HORSE, the CLYDESDALE, and the SUFFOLK PUNCH. These are wonderful
instances of the results of selective breeding towards a definite
end--large size, accompanied by great physical strength and powers of
endurance. To accomplish this, speed has had to be sacrificed.
[Illustration: _Photo by W. Reid_] [_Wishaw, N.B._
EGYPTIAN DONKEYS.
The ass has long been known to the Egyptians, having been in use by them
before the introduction of the horse.]
[Illustration: _Photo by C. Reid_] [_Wishaw, N.B._
MULES.
A couple of fine mules belonging to Lord Arthur Cecil.]
ASSES AND MULES.
ASSES.
The DOMESTIC ASS, so common to-day in these islands, is of African origin,
and has, moreover, departed but little in either form or colour from the
wild race. This is probably due to the fact that the ass has not been
subjected in this country to that process of rigorous and careful selection
that the horse has undergone.
We have no record of its first introduction to these islands, but it was
certainly known in the reign of Ethelred, though it was a rare animal.
Later it appears to have died out, and to have been reintroduced in the
reign of Elizabeth; but it has never become popular. This is unfortunate;
its sterling qualities have never been really appreciated by us. Spain,
Italy, and Malta have all succeeded in raising some fine breeds. The United
States has, however, produced the finest of all in animals standing some 15
or 16 hands (5 feet or 5 feet 4 inches) high.
MULES.
The term MULE, strictly speaking, should be reserved for the offspring of
the male ass and the mare: the offspring of the opposite cross is called
the HINNY. Mules are valued on account of their great powers of endurance
and their sure-footedness. The finest and handsomest are bred in Spain, the
United States, and North-west India.
It is interesting to note that mules exhibit a strong tendency to revert to
the dun-coloured and striped coloration believed to belong to the primitive
horses. The spinal and shoulder stripes which sometimes appear in horses,
and more frequently in asses, occur yet more frequently in mules. The legs
of the mules appear particularly liable to revert to this striped
coloration in the United States, it is said nine out of ten being so
marked.
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