50 TIIE PEKCHERON HOKSE. 



our proverbial inconstancy, cause us almost always to go 

 astray in breeding. Fashion has no sooner praised horses 

 of such arid such a race, of this or that model, or such and 

 such a coat, than we must immediately produce the like, 

 without first ascertaining whether or no our race be pre- 

 pared for crossing with them. The result of such crosses 

 would be about as valuable as a discussion between a fish- 

 woman and an academician ! 



Nature, left to herself, is a thousand times more intel- 

 ligent than the man of systems. Are there ever found, 

 among the wild animals, among lions, tigers, stags, cham- 

 ois, etc., either spavins, tumors, periodical inflammations, 

 or any of those thousand infirmities with which our do- 

 mestic horse is afflicted? And here is the reason: in 

 the rutting season, the possession of the females becomes 

 the incitement to bloody battles. It is always the strong- 

 est, the most vigorous, the bravest, the most venturesome, 

 and the best made stallion, which receives as a reward for 

 his victory, the submission and the admiring love of the 

 harem. 



But I assume Perche prepared, by numerous and good 

 crossings of the race within itself, to try, with more sure- 

 ness, foreign crossings. Two principal types, as we have 

 just seen, are presented for this : the Arab type and the 

 English, which is itself derived from the Arab. 



The foreign cross I only speak of with diffidence, be- 

 cause with it I enter unknown regions of inductions and 

 perhaps, alas! into ways of deception and ruin, if it is not 

 effected with the greatest prudence and judgment. 



Foreign crossings, systematically effected from the north 

 to the south, and from the south to the north, have had 

 BufFon for their apostle, and, under the cloak of his genius, 

 and thanks to the authority of his word, they have reach- 

 ed everywhere. But how enumerate the evils brought 

 about by a school, whose disciples are still numerous,' 

 thanks to a perseverance irritated but not deterred by 



