The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-20
WILD HORSE.

ssid that the perissodactyls now extant are
large creatures, whose thick skins are some
what thnly set with hair, and who. with
relatively small though convoluted brain. have
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES heads, fact ascrbable
20 the development OF the skeleton Of the face,
and not connected with any corresponding en-
lzrgCmeuf Of the brain case. Finally. the skull
has neither sntlers, horns, or horn cores, and
Is THE RHINocEEos
these appeBdages are merely notifications Of
fhe skin, which have 10 connection whatever
with the bones Of the head.
Once the family EqHid8--eOHsisting Of The
horses. asses and zebTas-was very widely dis
trbuted bui al present truly natural equine
forms are confined 10 Asia aud Africa. The
American palaotherida have been long cx-
tinct. and what Is called the Eild horse 81 this
continent IS only domestcaJed animal that
has recently rcgaincd lis freedom.
Concerning the structure Of Equidg as con-
trasied with that Of Otbe: Odd-tOed unguiates
il is marked by family traits which, in every
instance exhibit, according 10 r. Ramsay
Wright. "speciaiizatiOns adapting the animals
O. speedy locOmOiiOu on dry land. and 10 the
change Of food which life 10 deserts and on
elevated pafeaas brings with H." Ia habits Of
life and character this animal likewise attesls
tie general truth that every trait-physical,
mental or mofal-Which living being mani
tests d. an on lcome % the correspondence which
exists must exist IL extinction j. 90 be avoid
ed-between the race. tie individual and its
environment.
ON the Asiatic or African plains Equida- as
scmbic ia herds, composed II family groups;
while ia such positions, where their keen hear
Ing aud speed insure, for the most part. Sc
curity. the animals natural tiInidity j. also
Treasured by the false confidence inspired by
numbers. But however many may be its as
sOciates, the lion, nevertheless singles out the
doomed zebra from The herd. the Arab cuts of
the wild as Of the SOudaB from his eompan-
ions and tic wild d0s Of Tsrtary OF Mongol
hunter mark d0wn and destroy the kisng
These creatures do not, however, forcsee their
fate, and II their gTegariOng habits cannot al
ways protect them against peril, they certainly
contribute 70 well being aud happiness. and
consequently 70 those physiological advantages
which all That d. plcasuTaBle 20 life. whether
u be that Oi man or beast, undoubtedly in
EOlye. F0als are usually born in Spring; they
are WcaBed az Eve or six months old. aud are
fully adult about Eve years Of age. All species
81 EgBiGs. are also fertile inter Dc, although AS
RUE, the power Of propagation does not ex-
tend beyond the first cross Of specifically dis
tinct forms
Romaues Gen. Daunas and others have
e0uicndol for the. high degree Of INTEL gence
possessed by horses, and relate many Instances
Of their eagacity. These were, however, fur
nished By domesticated specimens IN the first
place. aud, secondly. . argue the ENDORSEMENTS
Of class 81 animals from proof afforded by
selected individuals is 20 set M naught the
principles Of evidence. No direct relation be.
tween mass Of brain aud degree Of mind ha.
ever been established and the relatively smail
equine CnccphaiOn may convey 10 iinputation
upon tue intellect of the family. ~ tbs same
time. ike most people who have had rnuch q
do with what might be called uHcigiiizod
horses, tie hali-TeclaHIed animals Of the South
err American pTaiTies OF pampas, the writer il
not inclined 10 place their intelligence yer,
high. Independently OF
THE EXTREME SEEy0UsSEss
which is constitutional with horses and wlilcl
under some circumstances prevents them from
being ridden by men who are fully acquainted
with their character, Equus caballus, though
possessing q good memory, is strikingiy def
Gent IN those qualities of original inteilectior
which the Spanish mule displays ia a remark
able degree
With regard 10 the Asiatic wild horse, mucl
the same opinion seems 10 have been formc,
by observers Of his habits, although none 0
the writers referred to saw the creature other
wise than ia a feTal state, aud therefore yer
not IN position 20 make direct COMPARISON
between this and other forms Of Eqaidm Tn
horse reyerts 20 a wild state with peculiar "A
cility, aud those which have become free. 0
who are but semi-GOmcstoaied, exhibit tend
ency 10 assume the traits which distinguish
their remote prOgenitoFs aud unrecaimet
allies. Their heads become larger and NOR
clumsy, the cars leDgthen, the joints thickcu
the coat grows longer denseT, aud more rougi
while the frequent appearance Of q dun colol
nd back and shoulder stripes links them wit
hat undiscovered ancestor, whom Darwin con