THE PERCHERON HORSE. 53 



of the numerous migrations he accomplishes in Perche, the 

 counterpart of those that the type horse makes upon the 

 sands of the desert. A final comparison, which has not, 

 as yet, been sufficiently noticed, is, that, like the Arab, he 

 has no need of being mutilated in order to be trained, 

 managed and kept without danger. In a word, the Perche- 

 ron, notwithstanding the ages which separate them, pres- 

 ents an affinity as close as possible with the primitive 

 horse, which is the Arab. 



From this similarity of form and probable relationship, 

 comes the thought of new alliances. But in order to form 

 a more easy estimate of their effects, it will not be with- 

 out interest to classify the horses with reference to their 

 origin. This classification produces three very distinct 

 groups : the primitive horse, the natural horse, and the 

 compound horse. 



The Primitive Horse, oriental in its origin, is the pure 

 Arabian horse ; no other is acknowledged. 



During the time of the criiladers, as we have already 

 said in our first part, in consequence of wars and all kinds 

 of excursions, individuals of this race were spread over al- 

 most all parts of the globe. Although at first the prestige 

 which their superior merits deserved led to their being 

 bred in-and-in, these exiles were placed under different 

 latitudes, in different atmospheric and hygienic conditions, 

 which gradually modified their qualities and led to the de- 

 generacy of the race. And it became more or less degen- 

 erate in proportion as the soil upon which the colts were 

 foaled was colder, poorer, and more inhospitable ; for the 

 horse is as much, and more, the son of the soil upon which 

 he is foaled and reared as he is of his sire and dam. $ 



This fact has no need of proof. We see it every day 

 before our eyes in studying at home the changes that our 

 French breeds themselves undergo when transported from 

 one province to another. It might, however, be thought 



