I should explain that the Nonius strain derives its name 

 from a famous sire of that name which was procured from 

 France in the year 1815. The original Nonius was got by an 

 English horse named Orion out of a mare of the Anglo-Norman 

 breed ; which breed was largely built up on Norfolk Trotter 

 blood. To what breed Orion belonged I have not been 

 able to discover ; the name does not occur in the lists of 

 Thoroughbreds sent abroad which are printed in the General 

 Stud Book. 



There were few more interesting stables at the Paris 

 International Show in September last than that of the Hungarian 

 Government. The horses had been selected to illustrate the 

 results of the cross-breeding system described ; and these 

 furnished living proof of the sound, practical wisdom which 

 directs stud operations in Hungary. Among them were horses 

 the very model of what the fifteen-stone Hunter should be, and 

 perfectly shaped carriage-horses. The best were perhaps 

 those of Nonius (Norfolk Trotter) and North Star (Thorough- 

 bred) strains. 



On the estate of the Archduke Albrecht, in Lower 

 Hungary, there are imported Clydesdales ; but, with this 

 exception, no other horses but Thoroughbreds and Norfolk 

 Trotters were to be seen from Britain. Reviewing all he 

 had seen during his ten weeks tour, Professor Wrightson 

 says, " The result of much observation was to show me 

 that the best horses in Hungary are descended from English 

 stock." 



A number of the stallions foaled every year at the Royal 

 studs and about 200 yearlings, which are purchased annually at 

 an average price of 235 florins (^23 los.), are set apart and 

 reared with the view of use as public stallions. At the age of 

 three years these are inspected and classified ; about one-half 

 the number are rejected as stallions and cut ; .the best, to the 

 proportion of about 20 per cent., are kept for service in the 

 Royal studs, and 25 per cent, are sold as " Communal 

 stallions " ; death accounts for the remaining four or five per 

 cent, of the total. 



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