Anatomy, Artistic; Animals in art; Zoological illustration
The notation reproduced in Fig. 135 corresponds to the gallop from the
right. It is there seen, as we pointed out above, that in the first
phase the exclusive support of the left hind-foot takes place (1); that
afterwards, in the second, commence simultaneously, the pressures of the
left fore and the right hind foot (2); this is the left diagonal
support; and that finally, in the third, the body comes down on a
fore-limb, which is then the right (3); and that for a moment it is on
this limb alone that the animal rests.
To these three phases on the notation succeeds an interval; this is the
period of suspension.
The gallop of four phases only differs from the preceding in that the
foot-fallings of each diagonal biped occur at slight intervals, and give
distinct sounds. The notation is reproduced in Fig. 136.
[Illustration: FIG. 138.--THE LEAP.]
[Illustration: FIG. 139.--THE LEAP.]
[Illustration: FIG. 140.--THE LEAP.]
[Illustration: FIG. 141.--THE LEAP.]
=The Leap.=--The leap is an act by which the body is wholly raised from
the ground and projected upwards and forwards to a greater or less
distance.
It is prepared for by the flexing of the hind-limbs, which, by being
suddenly extended, project the body, and thus enable it to pass over an
obstacle.
This preparatory arrangement is very remarkable in the leap of the lion,
the cat, and the panther, which execute springs of great length; in the
horse, in which the leap is not an habitual mode of progression, this
flexion of the hinder limbs is less marked. With this animal the leap is
generally associated with the gallop; nevertheless, it is sometimes made
from a stationary position. In observing the hare or the rabbit, in
which the leap is habitual, we notice (Fig. 137) that the hind-limbs,
being extremely flexed, rest on the ground as far as the calcaneum, are
then straightened by the action of their extensors, become vertical and
then oblique backwards at the moment the body is thrown forward into
space by the sudden extension of these limbs.
The action of the extensors is energetic and instantaneous, and their
energy is greater than in ordinary progression, for it is required to
lift the body and to project it forcibly a more or less considerable
distance. It is the extreme rapidity of this action which enables the
animal to clear an obstacle, for without this condition the body would
be raised, but not separated from the ground.
First of all, in reaching the obstacle to be cleared, the horse prepares
to leap by taking the attitude of rearing; the hind-limbs are flexed and
carried under the body, the fore-quarters are raised, and the different
segments of the fore-limbs are flexed (Fig. 138).
[Illustration: FIG. 142.--THE LEAP.]
[Illustration: FIG. 143.--THE LEAP.]
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