FRANCE. 243 



croup and loins large and lean, the udder large, indicating good milk- 

 ing, the hair equally red or reddish brown, and the body nearer the 

 ground. The quality of the pasturage and the care have great effect 

 upon the shape and size of the different species. 



The cattle buyers give the name of " Bourn aisieuue " to the " Boulou- 

 naise" raised about Desvres, Sainer, Huequeliers, and Fruges, small 

 districts formerly known under the name of " Boumais." Under this 

 head is found the " Namponnoise," the variety u Boulonnaise " of the 

 arrondissement of Montreuil as well as of the valley of Authie, derived 

 from Nanpont, a village situated at some distance from the mouth of 

 this river, Toward Boulogne, Marquise, and' Calais, the race is larger 

 and becomes identified with the pure Flamand. 



The subrace Artesienne, more generally wholly confined to pastur- 

 age, which often becomes scanty, is less developed than the cows of 

 Bergues, and even of Saint Orner, is more slender and smaller, but its 

 constitution is less lymphatic. The breeder of these excellent cattle is 

 reluctant to cross them with any other, and fears to impair their milking 

 qualities, which have not been improved by crossing with the Durham, 

 and their adaptation to fattening is unnecessary to develop. It is said 

 that heifers of this breed occasionally become so fat as to remain sterile. 



This race includes about one million or more, which number is increas- 

 ing, constituting about one-twelfth of the entire cattle of France, and 

 of this number four-fifths are found in the eight departments of France, 

 beginning at the north and comprising the adjoining districts. The 

 price of these cattle range from $130 to $175, according to age, weight, 

 &c,; some animals bring $200, and even more. Bulls of this breed are in 

 constant demand from Holland and Belgium. 



THE NORMANDY BREED. 



The origin of the Norman breed seems unknown, in fact has never 

 been traced. It is^considered that the nature of the soil has produced 

 the breed. It seems to have changed very little in the last century and 

 is very remarkable. The center of production of this fine breed is com- 

 prised in the departments of Eure, Manche, Calvados, and Orne. 



DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORMANDY BREED. 



The distinctive character of this breed is an unprepossessing bony 

 frame, long and heavy head, largo snout, a large mouth, such as is found 

 in animals of large appetite ; sleek horns, often short and twisted for- 

 ward towards the forehead ; body long, backbone presenting bony pro- 

 tuberances and depressions in the cows advanced in age ; neck rela- 

 tively strong ; shoulders muscular; breast rather deep, often contracted; 

 belly large; flank large and hollow; hips ordinarily slightly spread by 

 corpulence; croup small; rump slightly developed; hind part narrow, 

 but with well-developed and well-formed bag, and ordinarily the signs 

 of good milking ; limbs short; skin thick and hard, showing signs of 

 slow growth ; coat variable as to color, brown, roan, and red, or piebald ; 

 never fails to present brown streaks scattered over the surface of the 

 body. This has given rise to the term " brindled." 



VARIETIES OF THE NORMANDY BREED. 



This breed has varieties more or less distinct. In Contentin and 

 essin, 

 lognes, 



Bessin, which extends from Cherbourg and Lisieux, comprising Va- 

 j, Carentau, and Isigny. a country which is celebrated for its but- 



