EVOLUTION FROM WITHIN 83 



the desire of the authorities and intelligent breeders 

 to "improve the species of horses natural to the 

 country, suitable for withstanding prolonged fatigue, 

 and on that account very much in demand." We 

 quote : 



"The Count of Breteuil has taken effective meas- 

 ures to improve the horses in The Perche, and, in- 

 cidentally, to better the breeding establishments. 

 His decree of the 27th of August, 1818, approved the 

 16th of September following by His Excellency the 

 Minister of the Interior, empowers an inspector to 

 visit all the stallions destined for service and to in- 

 dicate those having the necessary qualities rendering 

 them fit for the purpose, and also to see that only 

 those mares suitable for coupling with such stallions 

 are allowed to be covered. Each stallion owner will 

 receive a booklet containing the names of his horses. 

 The list of entires appropriate for public stud work 

 will be published and exposed at the prefect's office." 



In the same publication for 1820 we find the fol- 

 lowing : 



' ' The excellent breed of Percheron horses belong- 

 ing to the Department is appreciably improved since 

 a selection of the stallions has been practised and 

 prizes awarded to the finest brood mares. Owners 

 of approved stallions receive from the government, 

 for each year the horses are kept at stud, 100 to 300 

 francs as a pension, according to the quality of the 

 stallion. 



"At the Courtalain fair, held on the 25th of No- 

 vember, and at the Nogent market on the Saturday 

 preceding St. Andrew's Day, prizes are awarded to 

 the farmers possessing the best brood mares that 

 have been served by the stallions approved by the 

 government, or by stallions owned privately, pro- 



