FRENCH HORSES. 



499. 



in the Government studs. In this way, the black or 

 bay colour of the Boulonnais became changed into roan 

 or grey, which tints have been transmitted to and fixed 

 in all French cart horses, owing to a prejudice it is 

 difficult to explain" {Gayot). Sanson says that there is 

 "no uniformity of colour, which may be either hght or 

 dark. In the Boulonnais we find 'all colours and all 



Photo hy] 



Fig. 505. — Boulonnais brood mare, Margot. 



[J. Delton, Paris, 



shades, such as bay, red roan, blue roan, and dappled 

 grey, none of which predominate." Formerly, this breed 

 was entirely agricultural, but to meet modern require- 

 ;nents of heavy draught, it has gradually been made 

 heavier and stronger, by artificial selection and good 

 feeding, and is now represented by animals of immense 

 weight and power. ** These horses form the large majority 

 of those employed for heavy draught purposes in Paris, 

 which is the best place to judge their value. They are 



