THE FRENCH GROUP. 159 



must be submitted for examination annually, 

 and in the event that a horse should fail to pass, 

 after having in previous seasons gone through 

 all right, the letter E is branded over the five- 

 pointed star. 



Horses and mares registered by the French 

 Percheron Society (Societe Hippique Perche- 

 ronne) are branded on the neck beneath the 

 mane with a brand which looks something like 

 the American dollar mark. This brand is a 

 combination of the letters S and P — standing 

 for Societe Percheronne. These three brands — 

 the five-pointed star, the letter R and the com- 

 bination of the letters SP are the only official 

 marks placed on horses originating in France. 



Exception may be made to this in the case of 

 the Nivernais stallions, which have their stud 

 book numbers branded on their necks, but this 

 would seem to be a different matter altogether 

 in that a collection of numerals cannot be read- 

 ily mistaken for a single simple mark. 



There is, however, nothing in the French law 

 to prevent any breeder or importer branding 

 his horses how and where he pleases. I am*not 

 aware that any French breeder does so brand 

 his horses, but I understand that at least one 

 prominent American importer marks his pur- 

 chases with the hot iron. There need, however, 

 be no mistake made, if it be kept in mind that 

 the brands of the government are but two in 

 number, indicating acceptance or rejection — the 

 five-pointed star and the letter R. 



