Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . revolv-ing freely, and so re-tards the forward mo-tion of the foot. The main condi-tion of swiftness in ahorse is that the shoul-derbone should be ob-SiUifa^^S^ *~ lique, as shown in the illustration, and that the transition from the neck to theshoulders instead of being abrupt, should display a smoothundulating surface. 490. Why are horses ivith dee
Knowledge of natural history, revfrom Reason why: natural history, giving reasons for hundreds of interesting facts in connection with zoology; and throwing light upon the peculiar habits and instincts of the various orders of the animal kingdom . revolv-ing freely, and so re-tards the forward mo-tion of the foot. The main condi-tion of swiftness in ahorse is that the shoul-derbone should be ob-SiUifa^^S^ *~ lique, as shown in the illustration, and that the transition from the neck to theshoulders instead of being abrupt, should display a smoothundulating surface. 490. Why are horses ivith deep bellies, such as theSuffolk punch, the best calculated for continuous employ-ment ? Because when their bodies are thus formed, they carrytheir food for a long time, and consequently are enabledto bear a longer and a harder days work. 491. The Suffolk punch is particularly esteemed by the farmers ofNorfolk, Suffolk, and Essex; and it is well known that in these districtswhere this kind of horse is used, that the farmers are able to plowmore land in a day than can be performed in any other part of England. Of all creatures, the horse has the smallest stomach relatively toits size. Had he the quadruple ruminating stomach of the ox, he would. 1 64 KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL HISTORY. And early with thy team the glebe in furrows turn,That, while the turf lies open and unbound,Succeeding suns may bake the mellow ground.—Dryden. not have been at all times ready for exertion; the traveler could nothave baited his steed, and resumed his journey. The stomach of thehorse is not so capacious, even when distended, as to impede his windand speed; and the food passes onward with a greater degree of regu-larity than in any other animal. If a horse drinks a pail of water, ineight minutes none of this water is in the stomach; it is rapidly passedoff into the large intestine, etc. 492. Why has the horse no gall-bladder? Because the process of digestion in the horse is al-most incessant, and the bile
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1916
