Horses, though they are all of one and the same family, are of two different species: the first is the Arab race, the other the race of the _Beradin_. In like manner oxen, though of only one family, are of divers species: the first that of domestic cattle, which is the best known, and the second that of buffaloes: as different from one another in agility and weight as are the Arab horses from the _Beradin_. In like manner, too, the family of camels is one, and yet includes more than one species,—the Arab race and the race _Bakhati_.[31] If the foal has for its sire an Arab horse, and for its dam an Arab mare, it is indisputably noble, _hôor_. If it has for its sire an Arab horse, and for its dam a _Beradi_ mare, it is called _Hadjin_. If it has for its dam an Arab mare and for its sire a _Beradi_ horse, it is called _Meghrif_, and it is inferior to the _Hadjin_. Hence it will be seen that the most important rôle is assigned to the sire. It is impossible, we think, to get a pure race out of a stock the blood of which is impure. On the other hand it is a well authenticated fact that it is quite possible to restore to its primitive nobleness a breed that has become impoverished,—but without any taint in its blood,—whether through insufficient food, want of proper care, or excessive and unsuitable work: in a word, a race may be restored, the degeneracy of which has not been occasioned by any admixture of blood. In default of public notoriety, it is by actual trial, by speed combined with bottom, that the Arabs form their judgment on horses, and recognise the nobleness and purity of their extraction. But the form likewise reveals the higher qualities. A thoroughbred horse is one that has three things long, three things short, three things broad, and three things clean. The three things long are the ears, the neck, and the fore-legs. The three things short are the dock, the hind-legs and the back. The three things broad are the forehead, the chest, and the croup. The three things clean are the skin, the eyes, and the hoof. He ought to have the withers high, and the flanks hollow and without any superfluous flesh. "Dost thou accomplish a journey at great speed with steeds high in the withers and fine in the flanks?" The tail should be well furnished at the root, so that it may cover the space between the thighs. "The tail is like unto the veil of a bride." The eye of a horse should be turned as if trying to look at its nose, like the eye of a man who squints. "Like to a beautiful coquette who leers through her veil, his glance towards the corner of the eye pierces through the hair of the forelock which covers his forehead as with a veil." The ears resemble those of an antelope startled in the midst of her herd. The forelock, abundant. "In the hour of pain mount a slender mare whose forehead is covered by silky and flowing hair." The nostrils, wide.