HOR
H O R
, Thefe lay, at a proper feafon, a large number of oblong ■white eggs, which hatch into targe and long worms, whofe chief food is the worms and nymphs of the humble bees. The worm of this fly is continually found in the nefts of thefe bees, where it never meddles either with the wax or honey, but preys only on the young offspring of the creature. Ibid, p. 482.
Thefe worms grow to a very confiderable fize ; they have no legs, their body is pointed at the anterior part, but grows larger all the way toward the pofterior. This part of its body is of the radiated figure of this whole clafs of fly worms ; on it there are placed fix flelby bodies, in form of rays, difpofed in a femi-circular form, the upper part of the body marking its di- ameter. Near the center of this femi- circle are placed two pipes or tjbes, placed clofe to one another, which are (horter than the ray's, and their ufe much more important to the ani- mal, at lealt their importance is much better known to us : Thefe are the two pofterior ffigmata. Ibid. p. 483. The anterior fligmata, in the worm of this fly, are not fo very plain to the eye as thefe, but may be dift'nguiihed when carefully looked for ; they are placed one on each fide of the ficond ring of the body, near its junction with the third. The body feems compofed of a vail number of rings, or full of almoft innumerable fine (mall furrows; the upper part of the body, where it joins the under part, is all the way round adorned with a feries of fine (mall prickles ; and when it moves, it (hews two very (hort horns. The head is of the variable kind,- and is furniftied like the reft of that clafs, with two hooks ; but thefe in this fpecies may properly enough be called teeth; each is alfo fplit at the end, and fupplies the place of two ftrong teeth. Ibid. p. 484.
HOROMETRY, the art of meafuring, or dividing the hours, and keeping an account of time.
HOROPTER, (Cycl.) in optics, an imaginary line drawn through the interk&ion of the optic axes, parallel to a line drawn through the center of both eyes ; fo that the fpace comprehended between thefe two lines forms a plane, in which the two optic axes are always found. All the objects feen in this plane have a relation to the Horopter, or to the line which terminates it. The Horopter has feveral properties in optics, which are defcribed at large in Aguiilonius i Opt. lib. 2. Diff. 10.
HORSE, in zoology. See the article Equus.
Mettled Horse, a term uCed by our dealers in Horfe; to exprefs a creature of that fpecies, which has a great deal of vigour and heart, as they call it otherwife. There is great difference between a mettled Horfe, a Horje of vigour, and a fiery Horfe ; but as this is not fufficiently attended to by gentlemen in their purchafes of this animal, fome general rules for the diftin- guifhing real vigour in a Hcrfe, may be acceptable in a work or this general kind.
When a Horfe is (landing ftill, the rider who has a mind to try whether he has vigour in him, (hould keep him fall wir.li the bridle-hand, and apply the fpurs to the hair of his fides ; this is called by horfemen pinching. If the Horfe is impatient under this, gathering himfelf up, and endeavouring to go for- wards, and champs upon the bit, without thrufting out his nofe, it is a figu of vigour and right mettle in him. Some cau- tion is to be ufed, however, in judging by this, to diftinguifn between a Horfe that has vigour really in him, and one that lias only a fine fkin,:.nd is rather ticklifli than mettled. This is the cafe with a great many Horfes, and is found by their be- ing very fenfible of the touch of the (pur, and (hewing the appearance of a great deal of mettle and vigour when touch- ed, but immediately lofing the apprehenfion of it. Thefe are of a dull difpofition, but only have a tender (kin. The ?nettled Horfe is to be highly valued, hut the fiery one is good for nothing ; a Horfe that is truly vigorous, fhoiild be calm and cool, he (hould in general move on patiently, and only fhew his mettle when it is required of him. The fureft method is to chufe fuch Horfes as. are extremely apprehenfive of ftrokes, and are afraid at the lead appearance of their coming. Thefe, at the only clofing of the legs and thighs, feem to be feized with fear, and alarmed, but that without fretting or fiercenefs. A Horfe that walks deliberately and fecurely, and that without requiring the whip too often will go on brifkly and without fretting, will go from the walk to the gallop, and as eafily from the gallop to the walk again, and continually champs upon the bit, and trots with glibnefs, upon the moulders eafily, and fnorting a little thro 1 his noftnls. This is generally a creature of true mettle and vigour, though it does not rile to fuch a fiercenefs as is trou- blelbme or dangerous. If to thefe good qualities a Horfe be well upon his haunches, and have a light and eafy Hop, his head well placed and firm, and the reeling of his bit equal and jufi, the gentleman who loves riding will feldom need to complain* of the price. All the good qualities of a Horfe fhould, however, never recommend him, unlefs he has a good mouth, and a fenfible obedience to the ipur. Backing o/ITorses. The firft backing of a Horfe is a tiling of great confequence, as his value afterwards very much de- pends on it. After a colt has been exercifed fome time morn- ing and evening, and becomes fomewhat obedient, he is to. be taken to fome ploughed lands, the lighter the better ;
he muft be made to trot over thefe in the hand, by that means to tire him and abate his wantonnefs. When this is done, care muff be taken that all the tackling be good and firm' and every thing in its due and proper place ; then a perfon is to hold his head, and another to mount him ; but this mult not be done fuddenly, or at a jerk, but verv gradually and flowly, by feveral half rifings and heavings. It he bears this patiently, the perfon is to feat himfelf firmly 011 his back ; but if he be troublefome, and not tamed enough, the perfon is to forbear the attempt to mount, and he is to be trotted hard in the hand over the fame ploughed lands again, till he is willing to receive the rider quietly on his back. When this is done, the perfon who is on his back muft cheriih him, and the man who has his head muft lead him a few paces forward ; then he is to be cheriftied again. The feet are to be fitted well in the ftirrups, and the toes turned out ; afterwards the rider is to (hrink and move himfelf in the faddle, and the per- fon who holds his head, is to withdraw his hand a little far- ther from the mouth. As the rider moves his toes forward, the holder muft move him forward with the rein, till he is made to apprehend the rider's motion of body and foot, which muft always go together, and with fpirit, and will go forward without the other's atfiftance, and ftay upon the reftraint of the rider's hands.
When this is accomplished, let him be cheriftied, and have grafs and bread to eat ; and then let the rider mount and alight feveral times, cheriihing him between each time ; and thus he is to be managed till he will go on, or (land ftill at pleafure. This being done, the long rein may be laid afide, and the band about the neck, which are always ufed on this occafion, and nothing will be neceflary but the trenches and cavefon, with the martingal. A groom muft lead the way before ; or another Horfe going only ftrait forwards, and making him ftand ftill when deiired. In this manner, by fomctimes fol- lowing, and fometimes going before another Horfe on the trot, the creature will by degrees be brought to know that it is his bufinefs to be quiet and governable. Breeding of Horses, la order to have a good and beautiful race of Horjes, it is neceflary to chufe for a ftallion a fine barb, free from hereditary infirmities, fuch as weak eyes, bad feet, fpavins, piufinefs, or the like : Uiforders that arife from accidents are of no confequence, nor is the Horfe to be at all -the lefs valued for them as a ftallion. Three mouths before this Horfe is to cover a mare, he fhould be fed with found oats, peafe, or beans, or with coarfe bread, and a little hay, but a guod quantity of wheat ftraw ; lit Ihould be led out twice a day to water all this time, and after every water- ing walked about an hour, but not over-heated. If he be not prepared and put in heart in this manner, the colts will be weakly, and the Horfe himfelf will be fpoiled, growin"- purfy and broken- winded.
If he is put to too many mares, he will not laft long, his main and tail will begin to fall off through weaknefs, and it will be difficult to get up his flefh again by the next year. The number of mares Ihould be proportioned to his ftrength, and twelve, fifteen, or at the moft twenty, are as many as a Horfe will well ferve for in a feafon. Mares go with foal eleven months, and as many days over as they are years old. This being certainly known, it is eafy to contrive fo that all the foals may be brought forth at a time when there is plenty of grafs. About the end of May the mares are to be put in- to an enclufure capable of feeding them as long as the ftal- lion is to be with them, or that they 1 are in feafon. In this enclofure all the mares are to be put together, as well thofe which are barren as others. The ftallion \s hind-fhoes are to be taken off, but the fore-fhoes ftiould be left on to preferve his feet ; then lead him forth, and let him cover a mare twice in hand, to render him more tame and gentle. After this take off the bridle, and turn him loofe among the reft, where he will become familiar with them, and not one of them will be horfed but when they are in feafon. There Ihould be a little lodge built up in fome part of the enclofure, and peafe, beans, oats, bread, and other good food, put into the manger in it, that the Horfe may retire into it in the fcorching heats, and eat what he likes beft. He muft be thus entertained during the whole time he is with the mares, which is to be about fix or feven weeks. •
Mares that are very fat and grofs do not hold well, but thofe which are moderately fat conceive with the greatcft fuccefs and cafe. To bring a make in feafon, it is a common thing to give her a quart of hempfeed, or twice that quantity, nishc and morning, for eight days before (he is brought to the Horfe. If (he refufe it alone, it may -be mixed with beans or oats, and will go down ; and if the ftallion eat of it alfo, it will make him the better.
The ftallion fhould not cover before he is fix years old, nor ' after he is fifteen. A mare (hould never be covered before (he is three years old ; they (hould be always found and health- ful, and of a good breed ; fuch as thefe will bring forth bet- ter and finer foals than any others. - The colts produced from thefe, are not to be ufed for ftallion?, for they will degenerate, and the race will foon become exactly our own country breed. If a barb is not to be had, a Spanifti Horfe is to be chofen. Gilding o/Horses. See the article Gelding. ■
Fattening
