54 



a race except by means of prolonged action during and through a. 

 great number of generations ; fixity is only possible under this 

 condition. 



These considerations bring me naturally to demonstrate to you that 

 the word race, in French, in speaking of our domesticated animals, 

 is equivalent to the English word breed. 



Now I will answer your direct question : 



I St. Are there in France distinct breeds of draft horses, clearly 

 defined breeds, and recognized as such ? The answer to this ques- 

 tion is, yes. Our two most important breeds are the Boulonnais 

 and the Percheron. 



THE BOULONNAIS BREED. 



1 



Ihe Boulonnais breed has for birthplace the neighborhood of Bou- 

 logne-sur-Mer in the department of Pas de Calais, in the localities 

 known as the " High Boulonnais," " Low Boulonnais," and "Calaisis." 

 We also find this breed in the districts of Bethune and St. Omer. 

 The fillies remain in these districts, but the stud colts when six to 

 eight months old are taken into the districts of Arras, St. Pol, Abbe- 

 ville, and Peranne in the department of Somme, where they are 

 raised. Other stud colts cross over the river Somme to go into the 

 Vimeau district in Caux, Normandy, and are also scattered over the 

 departments of Oise, Aisne, Eure et Loir, and Seine Inferieure. 



The Boulonnais breed is a breed whose creation dates a very long 

 way back. Its origin is lost in antiquity. It has many centuries of 

 known existence. Its characteristic features are well defined The 

 Boulonnais horse represents the perfect type of the heavy draft — 

 powerful, fit for heavy loads at a walking pace. It has a veritable 

 athletic constitution, and is as gentle as it is strong ; moreover, it is 

 active and agile in spite of its enormous weight. In the Boulonnais 

 the foundation is equal to the form. Height, i meter 66 ; large 

 forehead j arches of the eye not very salient, orbit small ; short face 

 with straight chanfrin ; nostrils somewhat closed ; small mouth ; 

 strong lower jaw ; short ear, standing erect ; eye well open and 

 bright ; strong thick neck ; shoulders deep, appearing short; mane 

 bushy and double, seldom long ; breast broad and salient ; withers 

 low, with muscular bunches on either side ; back a little low ; loin 

 short and full ; hips short and round, strong and muscular, projecting^ 

 and divided by a furrow ; the whole body is thick, rounded, and low 



