50 A HISTORY OP THE PERCHERON HORSE 



ouglibred, and that the half-blood was preferable, 

 for if they gave their mares to a Thoroughbred 

 stallion certain qualities would be inherited from the 

 sire and others from the dam, which would result in 

 'misfits.' 



"M. de Clinchemps spoke warmly against any 

 crossing with the demi-sang. . . . He thought 

 that it was necessary, just as had been done by the 

 English, to go back to the source and buy Arabian 

 horses as stallions, an opinion in harmony with all 

 principles, confirmed by experience and crowned by 

 success in the case of our neighbours (the English). 



' ' M. Gautier speaking about the origin of the Per- 

 cheron horse said: 'The origin is still within the 

 domain of probabilities. Every man, who has up to 

 this time written on French and foreign breeds, says 

 that the Percheron is of Brittany origin. As proof, 

 nothing. Each writer, in consulting his predecessor, 

 has reproduced the same opinion. One writer has 

 said that the Percheron was of English origin. 

 Others say that the Percheron is descended from the 

 Arab. For me, if I may give my opinion: I believe 

 that the Percheron is a primitive breed, singularly 

 altered, improved by crossings at different periods 

 with Arabian and English horses." 



"The Legendary Kadischi." — It will be observed 

 that the writer of this letter is careful to set forth 

 that what he tells of the introduction of the Arabian 

 blood rests, not upon any existing records, but on 

 "tradition" handed down among "the manor houses 

 of the lower Perche." This then is the foundation 

 upon which the Arabian story rests. It has been 

 generally accepted; and yet not all the intelligent 

 men of The Perche have given it credence, as is evi- 

 denced by the following from the "Annuaires Nor- 



