18 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



refined, on the whole. The breed has an excellent repu- 

 tation in its native country, where an association has 

 been formed and a stud-book kept in the interest of the 

 breed. It has been imported in large numbers to America 

 and has more largely than any other breed made up what 

 is known as the French draft breed. 



The head of the Boulonnais is of good size, being broad 

 in the forehead and with a larger eye than the Percheron, 

 and somewhat more clean-cut about the lower part of the 

 head. The neck is medium in length and clean-cut. The 

 shoulders are laid well into the body and well-muscled. 

 The body is compact and deep-ribbed, with short and 

 broad back and well-muscled loins. The croup is in- 

 clined to be short and with a low-set tail. The hind- 

 quarters are muscular and broad with well-filled thighs. 

 The legs and feet are free from superfluous hair and are 

 possessed of excellent quality. Many Americans favor 

 the feet of the Boulonnais in preference to those of any 

 of the other French breeds. On the whole, the feet are 

 larger, more rounded and the pasterns have more slope 

 than the Percherons'. The colors are dapple gray, dark 

 iron-gray, black, brown and occasionally chestnut. 



This breed is growing in popularity in America, and its 

 interests, together with other French draft breeds, are 

 represented in the National French Draft Association 

 of America, which publishes a stud-book. This Asso- 

 ciation was first organized as the National Norman Horse 

 Association in 1876, but its title was changed to the one 

 that it now bears in 1885. The Association thus far 

 has published nine stud-books. The present headquarters 

 of the Association are at Denver, Colorado. 



10. Ardennais. This draft breed or stock is a 

 native of Ardennais, adjoining the Belgian frontier in 



