PART I. 



GREATNESS AND DECLINE OF THE PERCHERONS, 



CHAPTER I. 



GLANCE AT PERCHE. 



The Department of Perche is too well known to need a 

 description here. We will limit ourselves to the remark 

 that this region, which has become so celebrated for its 

 fine race of horses, represents an ellipse of about 25 leagues 

 long by nearly 20 broad. 



This ellipse is bounded on the north by Normandy ; 

 on the west, also by Normandy, and by Maine ; on the 

 east, by the portion of Beauce including Chartrain and 

 Dunois ; on the south, by the Vendomois three portions 

 of the ancient Orleanais. 



At the present time, enclosed in the center of the four 

 departments, Orne, Eure and Loir, Loir and Cher, and 

 Sarthe, the territory of Perche comprises the following 

 divisions : 



1st. The district of Mortagne (department of Orne) ; 



2nd. The district of Nogent-le-Rotrou, and a portion 

 of those of Chartres, Dreux, and Chatlaudun (department 

 of Eure and Loir) ; 



3rd. All the western side of the district of Vendome 

 (department of Loir and Cher) ; 

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