Page:A General History of Quadrupeds.djvu/25

 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 5 croſſing the breed, the Arabs take every precaution to keep it pure and unmixed : They preferve, with the greateſt care and for an amazing length of time, the genea- logies of their Horſes ; thoſe of the firft kind are called Nobles, being " of a pure and ancient race, purer than milk." They have likewife two other kinds, which, hav- ing been degraded by common alliances, fell at inferior prices. From Arabia, the race of Horſes has probably extend- ed into Barbary and other parts of Africa ; thofe being confidered as next to the Arabian Horſes in fwiftnefs and beauty, though they are ſomewhat fmaller. The Spanijh Genette is held in great eftimation : Like the former, it is fmall, but beautiful, and extretnely fwift. The Horſes of India and many parts of China are extremely ſmall and vicious. One of theſe was fome years ago brought into this country as a preſent to the queen, which was very little larger than fome maſtiffs, meaſuring only nine hands in height. A3