SECRETARY'S REPORT. 233 



both sides. On the expulsion of the Spaniards from the 

 Northern Provinces, the supply of Arabian stallions was cut off, 

 and, since that time, in the Perche district of Normandy, their 

 progeny has, doubtless, been bred in-and-in ; hence the remark- 

 able uniformity of the breed, and their disposition to impart 

 their form to their progeny, beyond any breed, of domestic 

 animals within my knowledge. Another circumstance, which, I 

 think, has tended to perpetuate the good qualities of these 

 liorses, is the fact of their males being kept entire ; a gelding is, 

 I believe, unknown among the rural horses of France. The 

 farmer will thus breed from the best horse, and he will have an 

 opportunity of judging, because he has been broken to harness 

 and his qualities known before he could command business as a 

 stallion." 



The points of the peculiar breed known as the Percheron- 

 Normans are these : Their standard is probably from fifteen to 

 sixteen and a half hands. " They are very short in the saddle 

 place, and comparatively long below ; they are well ribbed 

 up and round-barreled ; they have not the heavy head and 

 extremely short, thick neck of the old Norman horse ; l3ut, on 

 the contrary, have the head short, with the genuine Arabian 

 breadth of brow and hollow of the profile between the eyes and 

 nostrils ; nor are the heads thicker, especially at the setting-on 

 place, nor the necks, which are well arched and sufficiently long, 

 heavier or more massive than corresponds well with the general 

 stoutness of their frame. Their legs are particularly short from 

 the knees and hocks downward ; nor, though heavily haired, 

 have they such shaggy fetlocks and feet as the larger Normans, 

 while they have the unyielding, iron-like muscles and feet, 

 apparently unconscious of disease, for which the latter race are 

 famous." 



Herbert concludes his chapter on the Norman horse by 

 quoting from a writer in the " British Quarterly Journal of 

 Agriculture : " " The horses of Normandy are a capital race for 

 hard work and scanty fare. I have never seen such horses at 

 the collar, under the diligence, the post-carriage, the cumbrous 

 and heavy boiture or cabriolet for one or two horses, or the farm- 

 cart. They are enduring and energetic beyond description ; 

 with their necks cut to the bone, they flinch not ; they keep 

 their condition where other horses would die of neglect and 

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