504 CONTINENTAL HORSES. 



in existence. After the horses of Normandy had been a 

 good deal spoiled by the importation of Danish and 

 Mecklenburg cart stalHons, the introduction of Arab and 

 half-bred English stallions was begun in 1775. During 

 the war with England, from 1803 to 1814, the supply of 

 English entires was more or less stopped ; but from the 

 proclamation of peace to the middle of last century, 

 Enghsh half-breds and thorough-breds were largely and 

 continuously imported. Between 1834 ^^^ i860, the 

 Norman trotter was established by the introduction of 

 Norfolk trotting blood, the most potent representatives 

 being descendents of Y. Rattler. 



The district of Caen, which is in the department of 

 Calvados, is about 400 square miles in extent, and is the 

 chief horse-breeding centre of Normandy. In it, from 

 18,000 to 20,000 foals are bred yearly. The soil is prin- 

 cipally clay, and is poor in lime. All the horses of the 

 district of Caen are practically Anglo-Normans, with the 

 exception of the heavy cart-horses and a few common 

 horses. 



The district of Merlerault, which is in the department 

 of Orne, is another important horse-breeding centre of 

 Normandy. Its soil consists of a mixture of limestone 

 and clay, and its streams contain a plentiful supply of 

 lime and iron. Charles du Hays tells us that the favour- 

 able conditions of the soil, water and climate of Merle- 

 rault make it an admirable place for the production of 

 good bone and strong muscle, but not for great height ; 

 and that it need fear no rival in the breeding of vigorous 

 and compact thorough-breds, strong, muscular and hand- 

 some hunters, and brilliant harness horses. Writing in 

 1866, he refers to the fact that Merlerault had consecu- 

 tively produced such brilliant and successful racehorses 

 as Capucine, Palestro, I/Africain, Surprise, Vermouth, 

 Bois-Roussel, Fille de I'Air, Magenta, and Bayadere. 



Referring to Anglo-Normans (Figs. 508 and 509) in 

 general, Sanson informs us that although many of these 



