The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-03-15
Horses.

Horses.
Familiar as We are with the use of
horses, and accustomed to regard them
as the property of man, we almost lose
sight of the fact that there was once a
time when these noble animals were free
to roam about as they pleased. There
are some wild horses at the present day,
it is true, yet it is believed that all of
these have descended from tame horses
which have at various times escaped from
their masters.
The history of the horse on our own
continent, SO far as it is known, is ex.
ceedingly interesting. 1t shows that at
the time of the discovery of America
there were no.horses here, and that they
were afterward brought into the country
by the Spaniards during the Mexican
wars. According to the accounts of the
conquest, the natives were greatly aston.
ished to behold the invaders..upon horse.
back. Not only was the beautiful ami
NAL itself wholly unknown to them, but
their surprise was increased by the
remarkable sight of man seated upon
its back. Notwithstanding the fact that
horses were then unknown. in. America,
still the fossil remains which have been
found in the Western part CT the United
States prove that horses existed in the
new world in early times. Therefore,
for some good reason which is not under.
stood, they must have died out upon
this continent before the arrival of the
Europeans upon our shores.
These interesting fossils likewise show
US that the horses of the far. off time we're
curious little animals, very different from
the graceful, elegant horses of our own
time. The earliest Of these creatures yet
found was small animal, only about the
size of a fox, with four we'll developed
toes and rudiments ofthe fifth toe on the
fore foot. y Since that time the horse has
gradually increased in size and lost its
superauous toes, and naturalists now
have the satisfaction of tracing its de-
scent, by means of these fossils, through
the intermediate four.toed and three.toed
forms down to the horse of the present
day with its one perfect toe. These
changes must, of course, have occurred
by easy stages. The side toes no doubt
gradually diminished in size, and at the
same time the middle toe grew larger
and stronger, supported by the solid hoof
| which is simply very thick nail. Horses
therefore, as we know them, walk on
this long middle toe, which is covered
with the strong hoof and forms what is
generally spoken OF as the foot. What
we call the horses knee is in reality
the heel, and under the skin, just below
the heel, may yet be found two sleude,
bones, called the "splint bones," which
are remnants of the lost toes of the an.
cestors of our modern horse.
Horses are remarkably intelligent and
docile, showing strong memory fol
places. They yield themselves wholly
as we know, to the service of man, often
entering with enthusiasm into the work
assigned them, and we can scarcely esti
mate the assistance they have rendered
in the spread of civilization throughout
the world. Each of the various breeds
of horses is suited to some special Zinc
of labor, and we may notice that while
one breed excels in speed and another ir
strength, others sre valued chiefly fol
their powers of endurance. In cold and
stormy regions the horses are'apt to be
small and shaggy, as is the csse with the
ponies of the Shetland Islands. These
ponies are exposed to bitter cold in theil
native island home, and they need al
the protection which is afforded by theil
thick rough coats.
Horses in wild condition are in the
habit of congregatiug in large troops
which are led by one male. When they
are attacked the young animals anc
those which are weak and helpless are
generally placed in the middle of the
band and surrounded by those that are
strong and we'll able to defend them
Fierce conflicts occur between the males
to secure the leadership of these troops
and the unsuccessful ones arc sometimes
driven off from the flock and obliged
henceforth to lead a solitary life Horse:
fight by throwing the fore feet with great
force upon their enemies, or else by kick
ing violently with their hind feet.
Closely related to the horse is tht
zebra, conspicuous for its slender limbs
and beautifully striped silky hair. 1t il
altogether one of the most elegant AMI
mails, but its disposition is vicious and j
is not easily tanned. Zebras are natives
of the Southern part of Africa, wher'
they Craze in large herds upon the grass!
plains.-Harper's Young People.
An Appalling Tale.
spp1NcrfE1p MASS. March 7.-Th,