2C4 
ON BREEDING. 
garded as the modem Thracia, for the nursing soil of martial 
steeds*. 
But although there is this variety observed in their general 
appearances, there is, at the same time, a certain cast of counte¬ 
nance, and peculiarity of form, common to particular races of 
horses, belonging to particular countries, and even to particular 
districts. 
Horses, for instance, similar to the Arabian breed, cannot be 
perpetuated in England. France and Germany are incapable of 
rearing horses like unto the English breed • nor can horses simi¬ 
lar to those that are produced in the county of Yorkshire, be eter¬ 
nized in any other part of England. “In Norfolk, the breeding 
of saddle horses has been repeatedly attempted without success. 
Yorkshire stallions have been, and still are, sent into Norfolk, in 
the covering season. The foals may be handsome, but they lose 
their form as they grow up; whilst, in Yorkshire, let the foal, 
when dropped, be ever so unpromising, it will, if any true blood 
circulate in its veins, acquire fashion, strength, and activity, 
with its growth f/’ making good the French idiom, 
“ Mediant poulaiu pent devenu bon cheval.* 
In the midland districts, as Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and 
Leicestershire, the breeds of horses are chiefly those of the heavy 
black kind: they produce them in great numbers; but all the 
care and attention imaginable would be thrown away in attempt¬ 
ing to perpetuate the breed of those bulky animals in any of the 
western counties. Brittany has long been celebrated for two 
distinct breeds of horses—one for the purpose of draught, of great 
size and activity ; the other breed is that of bidets, or galloways, 
from thirteen hands to fourteen and a half high. An anonymous 
correspondent in the “ Sporting Magazine/’ under the signature 
of “ Old Forrester,” a gentleman who has proved himself to be 
well acquainted with the natural habits of the horse— 
“ A skilful horseman, and a huntsman bred/ 
j 
clearly shows this to be the effect of climate and soil. *“ Lower 
Brittany,” he says, “is to France what Wales is to England: 
the two countries strongly resemble each other in mountainous 
scenery ; and in features, figure, and language more especially, the 
Welchman and Breton closely resemble each other ; indeed, they 
are able to converse with each other with very little difficulty. It 
is not surprising, then, that even their domestic animals, such as 
cattle, sheep, and horses should be about the same stamp.” 
* Ai* gtci}\ot£0¥ou —IIesiod. 
f Marshall’s Rural Economy. 
