difference in the physiognomy of horses as in that of men. The horse deserves to be particularly considered by the physiognomist, because it is one of those animals whose physiognomy, at least in profile, is so much more prominent, sharp, and characteristic, than that of most other beasts.

Of all animals the horse is that, which to largeness of size unites most proportion and elegance in the parts of his body; for, comparing him to those which are immediately above or below him, we shall perceive that the ass is ill made, the head of the lion is too large, the legs of the ox too small, the camel is deformed, and the rhinoceros and elephant too unwieldy. There is scarcely any beast has so various, so generally marking, so speaking a countenance, as a beautiful horse.

66 The upper part of the neck, from which the mane flows, in a well-made horse, ought to rise at first in a right line; and, as it approaches the head, to form a curve somewhat similar to the neck of the swan. The lower part of the neck ought to be rectilinear, in its direction from the chest to the nether jaw, but a little inclined forward; for, were it perpendicular, the shape of the neck would be defective. The upper part of the neck should be thin and not fleshy; nor the mane, which ought to be tolerably full, and the hair long and straight. A fine neck ought to be long and elevated, yet proportionate to the size of the horse. If too long and small,

zon.

the horse would strike the rider with his head; if too short and heavy, he would bear heavy on the hand. The head is advantageously placed when the forehead is perpendicular to the horiThe head ought to be bony and small, not too long; the ears near each other, small, erect, firm, straight, free, and situated on the top of the head. The forehead should be narrow and somewhat convex, the hollows filled up; the eyelids thin; the eyes clear, penetrating, full of ardour, tolerably large, as I may say, and projecting from the head, the pupil large, the under jaw bony, and rather thick; the nose somewhat arched, the nostrils open, and well slit, the partition thin; the lips fine, the mouth tolerably large, the withers high and sharp." I must beg pardon for this quotation from the Encyclopedie, and for inserting thus much of the description of a beautiful horse, in a physiognomonical essay intended to promote the knowledge and the love of man.

"The more accurately we observe horses, the more shall we be convinced, that a separate treatise of physiognomy might be written on them. I have somewhere heard a general remark, that horses are divided into three classes, the swan-necked, the stag-necked, and the hognecked. Each of these classes has its peculiar countenance and character, and from the blending of which various others originate.

The heads of the swan-necked horses are commonly even, the forehead small, and almost flat;

the nose extends, arching, from the eyes to the mouth; the nostrils are wide and open; the mouth small; the ears little, pointed, and projecting; the eyes large and round; the jaw below, small; above, something broader; the whole body well proportioned, and the horse beautiful. This kind is cheerful, tractable, and high spirited. They are very sensible of pain, which, when dressing, they sometimes express by the voice. Flattery greatly excites their joy, and they will express their pride of heart by parading and prancing. I will venture to assert, that a man with a swan-neck, or what is much more determinate, with a smooth, projecting profile, and flaxen hair, would have similar sensibility and pride.

The stag-necked has something, in the make of his body, much resembling the stag itself. The neck is small, large, and scarcely bowed in the middle. He carries his head high. I have seen none of these. They are racers and hunters, being particularly adapted for swiftness by the make of the body.

The hog-necked. The neck above and below is alike broad; the head hanging downwards; the middle of the nose is concave, in profile; the ears are long, thick, and hanging; the eyes small and ugly; the nostrils small, the mouth large, the whole body round, and the coat long and rough. These horses are intractable, slow and vicious, and will run the rider against a wall, stone, or tree. When held in, they rear,

and endeavour to throw the rider. Blows or coaxing are frequently alike ineffectual; they continue obstinate and restif.

If we examine the different heads of horses, we shall find, that all cheerful, high-spirited, capricious, courageous horses, have the nosebone of the profile convex; and that most of the vicious, restif, and idle, have the same bone flat or concave. In the eyes, mouth, and especially in the nostrils and jawbones, are remarkable varieties, concerning which I shall say nothing. I shall here add some remarks on the horse, communicated by a friend.

The grey is the tenderest of horses, and we may here add, that people with light hair, if not effeminate, are yet, it is well known, of tender formation and constitution. The chesnut and iron grey, the black, and bay, are hardy; the sorrel are the most hardy, and yet the most subject to disease. The sorrel, whether well or ill formed, is treacherous. All treacherous horses lay their ears in the neck. They stare and stop, and lay down their ears alternately.

If

The following passage, on the same subject, is cited from another writer: "When a horse has broad, long, widely separated, hanging ears, we are well assured he is bad and sluggish. he lays down his ears alternately, he is fearful, and apt to start. Thin, pointed, and projecting ears, on the contrary, denote a horse of good disposition."

We never find that the thick, hog necked

horse is sufficiently tractable for the riding house, or that he is of a strong nature when the tail shakes, like the tail of a dog. We may be certain, that a horse with large cheerful eyes, and a fine shining coat, if we have no other tokens, is of a good constitution and understanding.

These remarks are equally applicable to oxen and sheep, and probably to all other animals. The white ox is not so long serviceable, for draught or labour, as the black or red: he is more weak and silly than these. A sheep with short legs, strong neck, broad back, and cheerful eyes, is a good breeder, and remains peaceably with the flock. I am clearly of opinion, that if we may judge of the internal by the external of beasts, men may be judged of in the

same manner.

CHAP. XLI.

Of Birds, Fishes, Serpents, and Insects.

BIRDS.

BIRDS, whether compared to each other, or to other creatures, have their distinct characters. The structure of birds throughout, is lighter than that of quadrupeds. Nature, ever steadfast to truth, thus manifests herself in the form of birds. Their necks are more pliant, their heads smaller, their mouths more pointed, and their garb more light and strong than those of quadrupeds.