THE 



PERCHERON HORSE 



THE Percheron Horse, a native of the department of Perche, 

 in the north-western part of France, is thus described by Mr. 

 Charles Du Huys, in a recent official report to the government : 

 " He is in height from 144 to 16 hands; of a sanguine tempera- 

 ment, mixed in variable proportions with the musculo-lymphatic ; 

 his color is almost always gray, and is, among the characteristic 

 features, that which first strikes the eye. He has style, although 

 the head is rather large and long ; nostrils well open and well 

 dilated ; eye large and expressive ; forehead broad ; ear fine ; neck 

 rather short but well filled out ; withers high ; shoulder pretty 

 long and sloping ; breast rather flat but high and deep ; a well- 

 rounded body back rather long ; the croup horizontal and mus- 

 cular ; tail attached high ; short and strong joints, and the ten- 

 don generally weak ; a foot always excellent, although rather flat 

 in the low countries and natural meadows j a gray coat j fine skin ; 

 silky and abundant mane. Such are the most general characteris- 

 tics of the old Percheron race! These are the points which are 

 still noticed upon what remain of some old horses, preserved from 

 the transformation which commenced long ago ; for at the present 

 moment everything is much changed. Since the time of the for- 

 eign crossings the foot has become flatter, the head overcharged, 

 the tendon still weaker, the back longer, the shoulder has lost its 

 direction and the croup has become shorter. The race has changed 

 suddenly to fill new wants which have unexpectedly sprung up." 

 From the same authority we quote : " The Percheron shows a very 

 great analogy by his coat, conformation, character of race, mild 

 disposition, and endurance, to the Arab, of which he seems to be 

 the son, notwithstanding certain differences, the result of time, cli- 

 mate, and region in which he is bred and in which he lives. I have 

 said that the Percheron exhibits in common with the Arab numer- 

 ous marks of a common parentage and relationship; these parks are 

 very obvious. A Percheron, a true Percheron, for some still exist 

 J (559) 



