Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-10-30

NATURAL HISTORY


Horse Encyclopedia Britannica
quote
and its near allies the several species Of asses and
zebras constitute the genus EqS nnus, small group
mals the class Mo distinct their organization
all other existing members class that many
geological systems they placed order apart the
name Of So1dog'do JIonodacya
The the earliest known animals which posi-
horse by series OF successive modi-
caon found the lowest the great acusnc formations
assigned the occnc period, spread considerable portions
the present territories of New Mexico Wyoming Utah
America That similar animals may have existed in other parts
the world is extremely probable.
Fossil remains OF true horses differing but very slightly the small
and inferior breeds those existing found abundanty
os the geological age almost every part
from scho Bay the north Patagonia the south In that
continent however, they became quite extinct and horses either
wild domestcatcd existed Spanish
quest which is the remarkable when introduced
Europe the horses that wild proved by their rapid multiplied
ton the plains South America and Texas climate
and other circumstances highly favorable their
The great abundance Eqa America their complete
extinction and their perfect accmatzaton by
form curious but unsolcd problems geographical
distribution.
The existing species OF the genus Equo the oowing:-
"GD The Horse Eqrus cadolbt Linn. distinguished
the Others by the long hairs OF the tail being
growing quite end and Sides and
by possessing small caosy the hind
leg just below the hook heel Joint addition the
side OF the forearm above the capus genus
The also longer and flowing and
limbs longer, and the head smaller.
Though the existing horses usually any def
mite only rrcguay dapped, spotted light
rounded by darker ring many examples showing
all the other members
Of the genus and even with dark stripes the shoulders and legs
indicating the probability the existing races
from single dun-coorcd less striped primitive
which our horses still occasionally
I'm Europe wild horses extremely abunantin the Ncolhic
poishcdstonc period Judging from the quantity their
mains found associated with those the that the chase
of these animals must have been among his chief occupations
they must have furnished him with his important
supplies The characters the bones preserved
but graphic representations rendec ancrs
enable to know that they rather small
build with large heads and rough shaggy tails
like the present wild horses scppes OF the south
These horses by inhabitants OF Eu
rope before the dawn history but whether the ma
o the animals existing are derived d-
ccty from them it probable that they
from horses imported through Greece and Italy Asia
from still earlier domescaton followed by gradual improvement
through ongconnued attention bestowed their
training Horses difuscd by the agency throughout
almost the whole OF the inhabited parts the globe the great
notifications they have undergone consequence
and ccvc breeding well eNemphed comparing such ex
forms the Shetland pony dwared by uncongena climate
the thoroughbred and the London Australia
America horses imported by the European
capped into the unrecmed lands and multiplied prodgous
roaming herds the plains where hoofed animals
| trod before
"(2) EqtaS as InnThe Ass nearly as wide
Y difued and useful to the horse Egypt
long before the horse and probably African its
close resemblance the existing wild Abyssnia tniopus
ieugn leaves little doubt its identity with that species
10 be Conh@ued]