THE BREEDS OF HORSES. 235 



undoubtedly object to the prevailing color of 

 the Orion's, as upon an analysis of the winners 

 in that country we find that fifty-five per cent 

 are greys, twenty-four per cent blacks, fourteen 

 per cent bays or browns, and six per cent light 

 bays. 



FRENCH COACH HORSES. 



As early as 1780 the French Government be- 

 gan a systematic effort to improve the native 

 horse stock of that country, especially for the 

 cavalry service, by the introduction of Thor- 

 oughbred and Hunting stallions from England, 

 and offering their services to the farmers at a 

 merely nominal fee. From that time down to 

 the present the French Government has con- 

 tinued its paternal supervision of the horse- 

 breeding interests of that country, introducing 

 from year to year Thoroughbred stallions in 

 considerable numbers, and selecting the best of 

 the male produce resulting from the union of 

 the imported stallions and the French mares 

 for use in the stud. Since about 1840, however, 

 the introduction of Thoroughbred stallions has 

 fallen off in that portion of France devoted 

 especially to Coach-horse breeding, while the 

 number of native-bred horses selected for use 

 in the stud has proportionately increased. At 

 times, under the supervision of the Govern- 

 ment, the introduction of Thoroughbred sires 

 has ceased almost entirely; and again, when 



