MODERN ARAB BLOOD. 61 



and provoked by the triumphant tone of the Oi'ientals, 

 resolved to test the question. The Irish mare "Fair Nell" 

 was selected, which was not a racer of any note or distinc. 

 tion. and about which there is now some dispute, whether 

 she is or is not actually thorough -bred, though she is known 

 to be very highly and verj^ well bred ; and the result was, 

 that vastly to the disgust and disappointment of the Egyp- 

 tians, she defeated all the best Arabs of the Pasha's stud 

 with perfect ease. It has been asserted and is constantly 

 urged by the favorers and defenders of Oriental blood, that 

 no horses of really superior qualities or decided excellen- 

 cies, as Arabs or Barbs, have recently been imported; and 

 that to this, and to no natural or general inferiority of the 

 Arab or Oriental horse, is the want of success in breeding 

 from him to be attributed ; and, as a matter of course, 

 every one who imports an Arab or a Barb, asserts that his 

 horse, and his only, is a real and superior-blooded animal. 

 The plea is not, however, a valid one ; for it is not likely, 

 when a great majority of the horses imported from the 

 East into both England and America have been gifts of 

 Oriental potentates to croAvned heads or presidents, that no 

 one of them should have been a valuable creature. 



It is clearly the sounder opinion that the modern thor- 

 ough-bred horse of Oriental origin is a superior creature to 

 the modern Arab ;. and consequently it is clearly unwise 

 to attempt to breed thorough-bred mares to Oriental stal- 

 lions, or to breed any highly bred mares to such" stallions, 

 in preference to the best thorough-breds. Still it appears 

 not improbable that the general trotting stock and country 

 stock of America might be improved by crossing with 

 good Arabian or Barb blood, where the best thorough-blood, 

 combined with fine form and power, is not to be attained. 

 We are even impressed with, the idea, that with some half- 

 blooded breeds, such as the Canadians and Normans, both 



