LIBRARY OF THE sCNN Ml. A^" FOR THE '^■<<^ . ^ PEOPLE ^ •< FOR ^ ^ EDVCATION O C&» FOR , -^ O. SCIENCE ^ THE HOKSE PAST AND PRESENT 4% .»i»1»''i-7-)hV.io IN THE •^ AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY THE HORSE PAST AND PRESENT BY HENKY FAIRFIELD OSIJORN THE HORSE: PAST AND PRESENT In 1891 the American Museum began its long series of explorations and studies upon the evolution of the horse. It now contains the most complete collection of fossil horses in the world; also a very remarkable collection of mounted skeletons and models of modern horses, including both wild and domestic breeds. The ancestry of the horse has been traced back through successive stages rei)resented by fossil skeletons to small i)rogenitors with four toes on the fore feet antl three on the hind feet, with short-crowned, simi)le teeth and small l)rain, but always possessed of great relative speed. "What may l)e called the fossil l)reeds are found to be specialized as are modern breeds into exceedingly swift running as well as into slow- moving t>])es, into giant horses exceeding the very largest existing percherons, and into diminutive horses smaller even than the most diminutive Shetland. The comparison of fossil and living types is therefore most interesting and instructive. An epitome of the transformation of the hind leg from the hock joint down shows the gradual increase in size of the median hoof and the consecjuent diminution of the side hoofs which are slowly raised al:)Ove the ground through a very long period, hanging at the sides as dew claws but finally withdrawn up the sides of the cannon bone as the "splints." The first important step in this collection was in 1894 when the very ancient four-toed hors(> of the Wind River mountains {Eohippus ven- ticolus) was presented by ]Mr. Cornelius \'anderbilt and others. In 1900-1903, three annual expeditions were fitted out on a gen- erous scale especially to collect the ancestors of the horse; this was through the gift of Mr. WiUiam C. Whitney, also a Trustee of the jNIuseum. These expeditions were successful in securing several com- plete three-toed horses. The direct ancestor of the modern horse is still to be discovered; it is the one link still missing. The Museum is planning for continued search in the West, especially in Texas, South Dakota, and Nebraska, where it is hoped this link may be discovered. It is also preparing to publish a full history of the horse from the earliest times to the present. GENERAL CONTRIBUTORS Among the present and former contributors to the American Museum explorations and collections showing the history of this noblest of living (juadrupeds are the following: Cornelius Vanderbilt . William C. Whitney Henry Fairfield Osborn Arthur Curtis.s James . Cleveland H. Dodge George J. Gould . Frank K. Sturgis . Percy R. Pyne J. PiERPONT Morgan in the year in the years in the year in the years in the year in the vears donor of models, restorations and illustr tions of extinct horses. 1894 1900, 1902, 1903 1891-1912 1906, 1907 1909 1906-1909 1907-1913 1906 1904-1913 [6] SPECIAL (ONTRIBUTORS OF DECENT HORSES James R. Keene .... in the year 190() donor of the skeleton and cost of mount- in<>; of "Sysonby." Randolph Huntington . . in the year 1!)()4 donor of the skeleton of the Arab "Nimr." His Grace the Duke of Bedford, in the year 1012 donor of the skeletons of two wild or Prze- valski horses from his herd at Woburn, England. Sir Wilfred L.-^AVSON Blunt . in the year 1907 donor of sknll of an Arab. George Ehret .... in the year 1001 skeleton of the Draught Horse. Zoological Society of New York skeletons of Zebras and Wild Asses . . in the years lOOfi, 101 1, 1012 Warren Delano . . " " " 1912, 1913 Gift of a Norwegian Pony, and of a Hinny, or hybrid be- tween stallion and ass. The following persons have also contributed from time to time to the growth of the collection: Watson B. Dickerman E. B. South wick Ho.mer Davenport Tho.mas F. White Company Grant Stringer TYPES OF MODEKN H0KSE8 The collection of types of modern horses is designed to show, first, the highest standards produced by breeding; second, the mechanical perfection of the skeleton of the horse in the various extremes of motion and action, chiefly as studied through instantaneous photography. Mr. S. H. Chubb has been in charge of the i)reparation of this series since 1901, and has reached a standard of ti-uth and artistic perfection never before attained. The domesticated types which have already l)een completed or planned are the following: The Arab, source of all the Thoroughbred Stock The Rearing Horse in comparison with the Skeleton of Man The Draught Horse in the Act of Pulling a He.wy Load The Race Horse, typified by "Sysonby" at Full Speed The Standing Pose, typified by a Giant Horse of the Perch- eron breed from Ohio, in standing position The Grazing Pose, typified by the Diminutive Shetland "High- land Chieftain" The Trotting Horse, to be represented by such a type as "Lou Dillon" It is proposed to comi)l('t(' this series by the addition of mounted skeletons of tlie following types of wild horses, asses, and zebras. The PRZEW^■\LSKY Horse, from the Desert of Gobi, the only exist- ing SPECIES OF Wild Horse The Grevy's Zebra, from Abyssinia The Mountain Zebra, from South Africa The Burchell or Grant Zebra, from Central Africa The Wild Ass (Progenitor of the Domestic Ass), from Abyssinia The Kiang or Asiatic Ass, from Central Asia THE AKAP> The Aral) is famous l)()th in itself and as the chief source from which the English thoroughbred was derived through the " liyerley Turk" and the "Darley Arabian."" All the fineness and all the quality of modern horses are deri^'ed from this ancestral Arab sti'ain, although the thor- oughbred was largely modified oi'iginally by crossing of other stocks. AKAIUAN STAl.l.lON ■•MMi;'" IN POSE OF \VAT('II1N(; A IIEKD [9] The skeleton of "Nimr" was presented by Mr. Randolph Hunting- ton, Oyster Bay, L. I., February, 1904, and mounted by Mr. S. H. Chubb in 1906. "Nimr" was a pure-bred Arabian staUion, sired by the desert-bred Arabian "Kismet," a horse celebrated for an unbroken record of victories as a race horse in India. The skeleton of " Kismet' ' was preserved for some time by a New York veterinarian but was unfortunately destroyed. In the skeleton of the Arab both the head and tail are carried high when the animal is animated, and in this mount of "Nimr" all the special Arab characters may be observed as follows: 1. Skull short, but broad between the eye sockets. 2. Eye sockets high and prominent, giving the e.ycs a wide range of vision. 3. Facial ])rofile, or forehead, concave. 4. Jaw slender in front, deep and wide set above the throat. 5. Round-ribbed chest, short back with only five [ribless or] lumbar vertebra", well "ribbed up." 6. A liorizontally placed pelvis (a speed character) and a very high tail region, with few tail vertebrae. 7. A complete shaft of the ulna, or small bone of the forearm. 8. Long and slender cannon bones, and long, sloi)ing pasterns. THE REARING HORSE IN COMPARISON AYITH THE SKELETON OF MAN The "l^reaking of the horse" by man about 15,000 years ago was a turning point in human history, and the adoption of the horse as a means of transportation, as an aid in agriculture, and as a fighting animal in war, have been factors of the greatest importance in the evolution of the human race. Tliis splendid mount is ])art of the gift of the late William C. Whitney. The mount is faithfully worked out from instantaneous photographs, [10 J THE BREAKING OF THE HORSE SKELETON OF THE HOTJSE AND OF MAX PLACED IN A SIMILAR POSITION FOR COMPARISON [11] and is suggestive of the breaking and training of the horse by MAN. The rearing action expresses unwilling subjection, and the posi- tion of man — as if holding a bridle — of intelligent control. These two skeletons are so mounted by Mr. Chubb under Professor Osborn's direction as to facilitate comparison of the horse skeleton and the human skeleton, limb by limb, bone by bone. It will be observed that the left fore foot of the horse and the left arm of the man are extended forward and ujnvard, while the right fore leg and the right arm are bent. Similarly, the right hind leg of the horse may be compared indirectly with the right leg of the man. The human skeleton is that of a Prussian, selected for its tine pro- portions and excei)tional height. This mount is one of the greatest educational value and interest in the whole series. THE HACK HORSE 'SYSONBY ' "Sysonby" was one of America's most famous race horses. He was foaled February 7, 1902, at Mr. James R. Keene's Castleton stud in Kentucky, a few months after the importation from England of his dam, "Optime," his sire being the English bred "Melton." His record is one of the most brilliant in the history of American horse racing. [12] He won a rcniarkahle scries of victories l)ct\vccn his first race at Brighton ]^(>ach, July 14, 1904, as a two-year old, and his untimely death at four years (June 17, 1906). The skeleton and its mounting was })ri"sented to the Museum by the \atv James R. Keene. SKELKTON OF 'SVSONBV." I'KESEXTED BY JAMES \l. KEENE l!EIX(r :M()1 NTEL) TO SHOW A PHASE IN THE STKIDE OF THE ECNNINO HOESE This mount is based on studies by S. H. Chubb made from direct observation and from the instantaneous photograi;)hs of ^Nluybridge, Hemment and C'hul)b. The position is that taken the moment after the right fori> foot has left the ground, and the right "knee," or carpus, is beginning to bend; the succeeding foot-falls in order are the left hind foot, the right hind foot, the left fore foot, and the right fore foot. The full length of one complete stride is about 26 feet. Sysonby. — Motinii (if tlic Hiji and Shoiihlcr and Limbs. At this instant the liind ciuarters and limbs are lifted perceptibly higher than the shoulders, and from a rear view it will be seen that while the hind feet are thrust forward at this great height from the ground, they are widely separated from each other so as to avoid striking the fore legs. A moment later the shoulders will be lifted by the push of the fore foot higher than the hind quarters, then the hind feet will move toward the median line and strike the ground and the fore feet will move forward out of the way of the hind. Sysonby. — Motion of the Back Bone. The back bone is slightly- arched to help draw together the fore and hind limbs and feet, and thus lengthen the stride and bring the back muscles into play. When viewed from above, the back bone is also observed to be curved a little to the right, owing to the forward position of the left hand side of the pelvis and of the left hind limb; this also lengthens and gives power to the stride as the back bone is straightened. THE DRAUGHT HORSE The horse of the Perchcron breed from which this movmt was made was presented to the Museum by Mr. George Ehret. The mounting was completed by Mr. S. H. Chubb in the laboratories of the Museum in the year 1903, from his own photographs and studies supple- mented by the famous works of Muybridgc. In direct contrast to the skeleton of "Sysonby," this animal was mounted in order to show the development of power and slow movement in the Perchcron breed. The skeleton has been so mounted as to show the position of the bones when the animal is drawing a heavy load. The visitor will imagine that the shoulders are thrust against a collar, upon which the horse is pushing with all its energy. Note that the head and body are [U] I()\v('i-('(1, tliicc of the foot aro resting ii|)()ii the jirouiid. At the same tiiiio the liiiul limbs aro doinfi; tho fi,Toatoi' amount of work, the fore limbs aetinj;- ohiofly as su|)ports althouf;li ontorinj; into the thrust so far as possible; a portion of tho woifrht of the body has been thrown into th(> collar. A feature which is not shown in this ])hotoii'raph is tho curxatui'o of the backbone under the strain. THE DEAUGIIT IIOKSE IX ACTION Mount, the Gift of William ('. Whitney GIANT DRAUGHT HORSE The draught horse is deri\-ed from what is known as the Northern or Forest stock, a ty\w of wild horse ([uite distinct from that which gave rise to the Arab and the Thoroughbred. The fertile helds and limestone soil of Kansas have exerted the remarkable influence on imported draught horses seen in the occasional appearance of giant horses arising as "sports," too large and clumsy for economic service. [15] This enormous animal may be contrasted with the most diminutive breed of modern horses, namely, the Shctlands, from an example espe- cially bred and dwarfed for diminutive size. (ilANT DKAUGHT HOltSE FROM OHIO AND SHETLAND PONY OF SCOTLAND These two skeletons, i)hotographed together for purposes of com- parison, show the extremes of size produced by breeding and the favor- able or unfavorable action of climate which are to be compared with the extremes of speed shown in the Race Horse and Draught Horse. The contrasts in size are as follows: GIANT DRAUGHT HORSE SHETLAND PONY Height at shoulders 6 ft. 1 in. (ISi hands) 2 feet 9i; in. (Si hands) Weight in life 2,370 lbs. 170 lbs. Bulk of femur (thigh-bone) 188 cu. in. 13.] cu. in. [l(i] The resting position chosen in 1909 for the mounting of the giant Draught Horse is one of inaction and is designed to show the relaxa- tion of tiic Ixxly and ihc iiicchanical interlocking of the knee-cap in th(> left hind liiiil) to release the muscles from the strain of the weight. I'liis peculiar function of the patella (knee-cap) is shown in the left knee-joint, or stifle. \Miile th(> joint is extended to sujjport the ani- mal's weight, \hc i)atella rests on the i)rojecting process of the femur so tliat the knee is locked in the extended position by a very strong ligament which holds the patella a hxcd distance from the tibia below, thus sustaining the weight recjuired of it with comparatively little muscular exertion. Thus almost the entire weight of the hind quar- ters is sup])or(ed on the extended left leg, wliile the light hind leg rests in a more hexed position and hangs i)erfectly lax. The pelvis also seems to hang, as it were, from the left hi]:) joint, tilting very much to the right and twisting slightly the vertebral column. SHETLAND IN GRAZING POSITION This Shetland is a fully grown animal although the height at the shoulders is only S'.iK inches. At the time tlie animal was jRU'chased, in June, 1902, in Scotland, through the kindness of Professor J. Cossar Ewart of the University of Edinburgh, it was regarded as the most diminu- tive Shetland pony which had been lired in (ireat Britain. Somewhat smaller Shetlands have since been i)i'oduced by selection and in-breeding. The modern Shetland pony has been produced by careful selection and breeding of a race of domestic or half wild horses originally dwarfed l)y unfavorable surroundings, inhal)iting the l)leak and barren Shet- land Islands, with their cold, damp climate and restricted range. The P(M-cheron, on the other hand, bred to the plow and cart in the rich and fertile lands of Normandy, has been improved by favorable conditions and by selection for size and stn^ngth. and is the largest of the domestic breeds of horses; the Shetland being the smallest. LI' J SHKTLAM) J'UXV •IIIGULAND CHIEFTAIN" .MOUNTED IN THE GRAZING POSITION This skeleton was presented by William (". Whitney in Jnne. I!t(t2. This siKTial study shows the ]30sition of the hmbs of a horse in the action of grazing. It wiU be seen that the downward reach of tlie head and the slow, lax step, modify the position of almost every bone in the body. The vertebral column is considerabh' arched in the dorsal region, thus assisting in the downward cur^•e of the neck and at the same time tilting the angle of the j^elvis a few degrees toward the per- pendicular, increasing the length of the hind limbs arid tilting the body toward the head. The head being turned well to the right, there is a very slight curve toward th(- left in the anterior portion of the dorsal vertebrae, and a slight curve to the right in the lumbar vertebrae owing to the backw^ard i)osition of the right hind foot. The weight of the body falls on the right front and the left hind foot, bringing them both very near the median line, and also modifying the i)osition of the scapula and elevating the left side of the pelvis. A little below the knee a very small, hair-like bone may be seen, which represents the shaft of the almost extinct fibula. [LSJ THE TKOTTING HOKSK I'dsition Selected as Typical of the American Trotter, all four feet r.aised from tlie liround THREE MODELS OF THE HOKSE IN ACTION Those models, executed l^y Envin S. Christman, one of the Museum's staff of artists, are designed to ilkistrate the action of the horse in the various jihases of the walk, the jfallo]!, and the trot, the latter still awaiting completion. The models are all to the same scale, of one sixth natural size, so that a contrast is afforded both of the differences of size and wciiiht and the differences of proportion. 1. THE RACE HORSE "SYSONBY" This model is designed upon an extremely careful study of the skeletal action and is leased upon absolute measurements of the differ- ent limb segments. It represents one of the extreme phases of the run in which three of the limbs are folded and the fourth, in this case the right fore leg, has just left the ground. The artist was assisted by an instantaneous photograi)h of "Sysonby" and the former owner of this great racer, the late Mr. James R. Keene, i)ronounced the model an I 19 I absolute likeness of "Sysonby" as he appeared at his highest speed. It corrects several of the false traditions not only in regard to the limbs but also in regard to the j^osition of the head, which is never extended out straight as represented in the old prints. 2. TWO PHASES OF THE GALLOP In this representation of two phases of the gallop, by Mr. Erwin S. Christman, we have a study in which a more artistic effect is aimed at, yet the scientific anatomic purpose is served by the fact that the two horses represent what may be called the two extreme phases of the gallop, in one of which three of the limbs are folded up imderneath the body, in the other of which three of the limbs are at their maximum extension beyond the perpendicular of the body. S. THE 13RAUCiHT HORSE Tlie draught horse similarly is a very careful study based upon the skeleton of the draught horse in action. It rein-esents the opjjosite extreme of the "Sysonby" stride since three out of tlie four limbs are on the ground and the fourth, the left hind leg, is just being raised in the forward step. The head is extended forward as far as jjossible so as to balance the weight, because the horse is pushing and also leaning his entire weight against the collar so as to assist the muscles as much as possible. [20] MODEL OF "SYSOXBY" TWO PHASES OF THE GALLOP [ -^1 1 THE FOSSIL SERIES The horse from the A'ery earhest geologic times, rouj);hly estimated at two and a half miUion years, all the period since the birth of the Rocky Mountain system, has been the aristocrat among (luadrupeds in point of speed and delicacy and beauty of construction. This statement is borne out by the comparison in the American Museum exhil)itions of the little coursing hound, the whippet, and the original four-toed horse, in which the proportions of the different segments of the limbs are seen to be strikingly similar; in fact, the Eohippus probably had a little more speed, indicated in the elongate structui-e of its hind feet, than the whii)pet. SKULL OF MODERN HORSE ANJ) MOI>El, OF JUflUPrUS It is very difficult to realize the multiple structure of the foot and the diminutive size of these very ancient horses until a life-size model of one is placed beside the skull of a modern draught horse, when it is [22 I ()1)s('1-v(m] tliat Eohippus and the skull arc of al)()iit the same length; also that one feature of eciuine e\-()lution is a eontinuous increase in size. This |)rinci])le of continuous inci'case in size is d thousand to one million years, through natural proc- esses of l)re(\ling and the inci-easingly severe competition of these I OA I animals with many carnivorous enemies. The Mesohippus is ah-eady a superb mechanism, more dehcate in its proportions than any modern race horse and probably equal in fleet ness for short distances. SEIUES EOCENE TO OLIGOCENE Remains of hundreds of these animals arc found in the beds of old watercourses which traversed the region now politically divided into South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Montana. The recapture of a complete skeleton from these ancient watercourses and floodplain basins is a very rare event. The rocks have, however, yielded to the persistent search of the very able corps of explorers engaged in the work, most of whom are natives of our Western States. Especially we may mention James W. Gidlcy of South Dakota, who was in charge of the Whitney explorations for three years, and Barnum Brown of Kansas. Recently Mr. Walter Granger of Vermont has with great success taken up the search in the Rockies for the oldest American horses. These remains are generally found in a very fragmentary con- dition; they have been repaired and set up by Mr. Adam Hermann, head preparator, and his assistants. [24J Xatvirc lias produced even more distinct breeds than those pro- duced t)y man, or lathcr greater extremes of structure and of habit. Thus very early in eciuine history among the race of Mesohippus the so-called Forest Horse api)eared. These horses browsed on shrubs and soft ])lants ratlun' than grazed, and seeking this kind of food in soft and swampy ground are distinguished by broad, spreading feet with three hoofs, and by short-crowned teeth resembling those of a tapir. These animals lived for hundreds of thousands of years and found their wav e\(>n into western Asia. SERIES EOCENE TO OLIGOCENE In the other extreme is the high speed mechanism of the grazing or DESERT HORSE which has limbs as finely drawn as those of the existing Virginia deer and was undoubtedly an animal capable of very high speed. This ty])e is r(>i)resented by Xcohipparion ichitnciji, or "Whitney's New Hipparion," the name having been given in honor of the late INIr. William C\ \Vhitney. This is the most perfect skeleton of a fossil horse ever discovered, so perfect in preservation that even the cartilages of the ribs are fossilized and preserved as well as all the delicate vertebr:^ to the very tip of the tail. It was found near the Rosebud Indian Agency by Mr. H. F. Wells of the Whitney expedition sent out by the Museum in 1902, and was one of the finest i:iroducts of the whole series of explorations conducted under this fund. The skeleton is that of a mare, as indicated by the small size of the tusks. With the mare in the sandy deposit were found the skeletons SKKl.KKtN AM) KKSTOKATIOX OF THE FOKHST HORSE HYPOHirPrs [26] (if four younger animals, prohahlx" colts which had sought n'fulwtrip stoi'in or cloudburst with the marc and were killed and buried at the same time. The head is exee))tionally lar^e, the teeth are loni>; and liijj,hly effectix'e for the j>;razinji; habit, while the liml)s are excessively lijiht ami delicate in proportion. SKELETON AND KESTOKATION OF THE DE8EKT HOKSE NEOHIPPARION WHITXEYI [27J Neither of these types, the Forest, the Desert type, or the Hipparion, are known to be directly ancestral to the true modern horse Equus, and one of the gaps still remaining for our exploration is to discover the immediate ancestors of the true horse. It has long been known that wild horses of great variety covered our country long before the period of the Spaniards and probably long before the period of the first appear- ance of man. The natural causes of the extinction of these splendid native races are still unknown. Not improbably these animals were swept away by an ei)idemic. ^^F^% S^BRI ■ ^H ■■ JfTm vv j\Y m ^^^^^^KBlt: h'.' ^^^^^^tlL* il^B rfi Jill v^^^^H ''^^^^ft ^^^1 ^^^ P7*t Bll ^^V ^^m . ^ rh RO UQULU tiCOTTI AND EOHIPl'U>S First and last stages in the Evolution of.tlie Horse in America Up to the time of our exploration only fragments of these native horses had been found, together with a single fragmentary skull. Thus one of the most important discoveries made in the whole twenty-two years of exploration was the finding of remains of a herd of true horses near Rock Creek, Briscoe County, Texas, by James W. Gidley, of the Museum expedition of 1899. The herd consisted of seven skeletons, [28J most of which were nearly complete. Other skeletons have recently been found as a remnant of the same herd. No other such complete single find has ever been made in all the exploration, covering fifty years, of our Western States and Territories. SIDE VIEW OF HOCK JOINT Showing conversion of Lateral Toes into Splints The animal known as Scott's horse or Equus scotti, represents the last stage in the evolution of the horse of North America just before it became extinct in this country. It is in every respect a horse, although a badly proportioned one, the head being large and the hip girdle short and clumsy. It differs from the domestic horse in the heavy, deep, zebra-like skull, compact body and smaller legs and feet. Like the modern horse it has only a single hoof on the fore and hind feet, while the side toes are represented by the "splints." [29] THE WILD H0K8ES, ASSES, ZEBRAS IX THE ZOOLOGICAL PAKK The presence of a great Zoological Park in Xew York, under the direction of the Xew York Zoological Society, will render jjossible in future years the completion of the History of the Horse through the exhibition and study of all the wild living ty])es. A complete list of the wild equines now or very recently shown in the Park, and the princii)al geographic range of each, is as follows: \ViLD Horses. Przewalsky Horses, Equus przewalskii. De.sert of Gobi, Central Asia. Wild Asses. Persian \N'ild Ass. E(jiiu.'< licmippus. Deserts of S. Persia, and Arabia. Kiang, Eqtius IicihIohiis. N. Asia; Trans-Baikal Region. Zebras. Grew Zebra, Equus grcvyi. Abyssinia and Br. E. Africa. Grant's Zebra, Equus qnuiti. British East Africa. Chapman Zebra, Equus burclivUi chupiuaui. Central South Africa. [Mountain Zebra, Equus zebra. Cape Colony, S. Africa. The Przeicdlski/ ]\'il(l Horse, otherwise known as the Stei)pe horse, and nearest relative of the domestic horse , is readily distinguished from all modern domesticated breeds by the entire ab.sence of the forelock and by the fact that the mane rises along the neck like a crest exactly as in th(> zebras and asses, and does not fall over on one side, as in the domestic horse. The large head, rather short and truly horselike [80 J oars, small and inexpressive eyes, and light buff-colored muzzle are well shown in l-'i.^. 1. The l)ody is uniformly colored, with a dark brown dorsal stripe. Sometimes there ai'c faint horizontal strii)ino;s on the legs. Another \-er>- distineti\-e feature, well shown in Fig. 1, is the short, stiff hair on the ui)per portion of the tail, of buff or dun color, traversed by the \-ertieal strii)e. There is a vast difference between the short, smooth and rather handsome coat of these animals in summer and the rough, shaggy coat of the winter, when a long beard appears be- neath the jaws. Fk;. 1. IIKHl) OF Fh'ZKW ALSKY WILD IIOltSFS IN ZOOLOGICAL I'AEK Tl liiiinal stiillion and mare to tlie It-tt. Tin- small colt. l)orii June S, 1911', is of unifoim buff color with a woolly coat. I'liotogiaplied June l-'O, IDll.' These animals were formerly widely spread over Europe, between twenty and twenty-five thousand years ago. During the Ice Age, they were among the favorite subjects of the cave men, who represented them with extraordinary fidelit>' as to all the features we have men- tioned, on the walls of the caves of the Pyrenees, and of Dorgogne and northwestern Spain. Not one of these drawings shows a forelock, [31] I-'IC. 1'. TIJE IkIANC, (»I; Wil.l) ASS OF THIltET and it is remarkable how those prehistoric artists portrayed the rather dull eyes in con- trast with the fierce expres- sion they gave the eyes of the bison. The general dun or light - brownish color of the Prze- walsky horses conforms to their semi-desert environ- ment, rendering them less conspicuous, like the now extinct quagga of the Z(>bra From pliotogTaph by the Dudiess of Bedford. „ . , 1 • I f 1 made in Wobiirn Park family, which lormerly roamed the oi)en plains south of the Limpopo River in the Transvaal, South Africa. But the closest imitation of the wild horse is in the wild ass (Fig. 2) from the Trans- Baikal of Asia, known as the Kiang, a specimen of which was presented to the Society by His Grace the Duke of Bedford. The light under- color of the belly of the wild horse is also seen in the wild ass of Southern Asia (Fig. 3) which has a much lighter color scheme than that of the Ml X ■ ' r .ilprr-' . -': I ^' m>iM ,;..;;..,.,; Fui. 3. TUK I'EKSIAN WILD ASS Uniform Isabella, or fawu-color, with dark dor.sal stripe, light colored and slender limbs, light under color and dark erect mane. This Przewalsky. Its limbs are animal differs fron, the Abyssinian ass, the ^^^^ ^-^^ -^^^^^^ ^^ ^^, progenitor of the domesticated asses, m the absence of the shoulder stripes. [32 dark. It shows, too, the dark, Fi(i. 4. THE PlilNCE OF TllK ZEBKA FAMILY, J-Jiiims (/nri/i From i)liotograph l)y Sanborn, in the Zoological Park erect mane and black stripe down the back. In fact, this black stripe dowTi the back so well shown also in the back view of the Grevy Zebra (Fig;. 5), is the most universal uf all the color markings in the family of liorses. It is difficult to conjecture what advantage this dark brown or black line brings to the animal. In all the accompanying photographs it appears to shade off into the background. The very bi'illiant dark-brown stripes of the Clrevy zebra, shown in Fig. 4, certainly tend to make the animal very conspicuous as seen in its yard; but from certain points of view, such as that of Fig. 4, where the sunshine glances off the glistening hair, the white and brown stripes on certain regions of the body entirely disappear. Those who strongly believe in the color i)i-otection theory truly point out that in certain sur- rovuidings this most brilliantly marked of all the mammalia almost disappears from human vision. I myself have seen a small herd of Grevy Zebras standing under a tree in the Duke of Bedford's Park, Woburn Abbey, with the sunshine glistening down on them against a light background, become almost invisible. The vanishing effect is only transitory, however, and from other points of view they again be- come conspicuous. The Grevy is readily distinguished as the largest of the zebras. It is characterized b>- delicate striping, a very long head, and very large, rounded ears, like those of many other forest-loving ani- mals. Its narrow striping contrasts very strongly with the broad and brilhant stripes of the Grant zebra, which, as shown in Fig. 6, so com- pletely surround the bodj' that they unite with a black line e.xtending along the under surface of the belly. Grant's zebra, like the Grevy, has a very conspicuous set of hori- zontal stripes extending down the legs to the hoofs, and is t hus readily distinguished from the Chapman zebra in which the lower portion of the leg is ciuite pale. The Grant Zebra is ty]iical of a very large group entirely distinct from the Grevy and Mountain zebras. It is broadly known as the Burchell grouj), the type of which was the zebra found and described by the English explorer Burchell north of the Orange Ri\er, which roamed north of that stream as the Quagga roamed to the south. In the typical Burchell zebra (E. burchelU, now believed to be almost extinct) [34J Fig..-), the (ilJEVY ZEBRA. FIJOM AF.YSSINIA Distinguished by sharply defined and very numerous narrow wliite and dark chocohite stripes, and by a very lieavy dorsal strijie which is CMUitinned down the center of the tail. f^Sf?- |-|,,. C. 'IIIM A( ('LI.MATl/A'l'ION Ol' 'rill-; GKANT ZEBIIA, J