The New Encyclopaedia of Sport ¹

Abstract

FROM a biological point of view two articles in this issue are especially noteworthy, namely, one on the Arabian horse, by the well-known breeder, Mr. W. Scawen Blunt, and one on grouse disease, by Dr. Shipley. The former stands as it was in the first edition, the author stating that he has practically nothing to add or alter. Its special interest lies in the fact that the author still maintains the theory that the Arab horse, in place of being a comparatively late importation, originally existed in a wild condition in the comparatively desert districts of Nejd and the central plateaus of Yemen. On the other hand, such historical evidence as exists does not indicate that the natives of Arabia were in possession of tame horses at a very early period, and this seems to weigh considerably against the idea of the former existence in the country of a wild race.