Rouen ducks were unfortunately molting at the time of the exhibition, but it could be seen that they were stoutly built and otherwise in good condition. The Aylesbury ducks were not particularly fine, neither were the Pekins, but the Labrador ducks were a fine show, and were much admired on account of their beautiful black and olive-green iridescent plumage. The race is hardy and easily reared, and its flesh is much esteemed, having a wild flavor. The ducks are good layers.

PIGEONS.-The show of pigeons was exceptionally fine, and all the important varieties were represented. There were also a few carrier pigeons shown in a "military dovecote," in connection with the exhibit by the minister of war upon the Esplanade des Invalides, besides which there were large flights of carrier pigeons at different times during the Exposition, some of which were sent from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Since the war of 1870-'71 the carrier pigeon has been adopted for use in the French army, a regular service of them being made. They are protected by law, and their indiscriminate possession is forbidden. The type of carrier dove used in France has a strong resemblance to our ordinary pigeon.

GUINEA-FOWLS.-A show of Guinea fowls was made. These birds have been somewhat neglected in France, but are worthy of more serious attention. The common variety, Numida meleagris, originates from northern Africa, and a larger variety, the vulturine, coming from Madagascar, is to be seen at the Zoological Gardens at Marseilles, and is said to be capable of becoming serviceable as a domestic fowl. The ordinary Guinea fowl is as easy to feed as the common fowl, but, being more active, requires greater space to run in.

The hens do not lay in the winter, but in the summer they lay regularly an egg a day. They are not good sitters, and therefore their eggs, which require twenty-eight days to hatch, should be placed under hen turkeys or in the incubator; the young chickens are very lively, but are delicate and require much care. The fullgrown fowls are noisy and troublesome, and should be kept separate from the other fowls, but they are brave, and will fight hawks and other enemies. They are susceptible to cold and wet, and should have dry courts and plenty of sunshine. Their flesh is much esteemed, being white, firm, and succulent.

PEA-FOWLS.-None of these were exhibited.

RABBITS.

There was a large show of rabbits, comprising 350 different lots, but beyond a few hundred black Russians there were no new varieties nor remarkable specimens, though an interesting collection was sent from Alsace.

THE HORSE SHOW.

This was held upon the Cour-la-Reine from the 5th to the 11th of September, and was the largest exhibition of horses held in France for 20 years. In 1878, there were 1,058 entries, while in 1889 there were 1,473, and there might easily have been 1,700 had not the opening of the show been delayed for several days.

Horse-raising has improved visibly in France since 1867, and this improvement may be directly traced to the influence of horse fairs and international expositions. A general awakening has taken place, so that now each horse-raising district-Perdie, Boulonnais, Algeriahas its studbook.

The horse show of 1889 was conducted by the Administration des Haras, without, as in 1878, the interposition of private individuals. The classification was also an improvement, being by races and not into four sections as formerly. It is said that the total value of the horses exhibited was nearly 20,000,000 francs ($4,000,000).*

Pure-blooded horses were placed in the first category, and consisted of Arabs and English thoroughbreds. The Arabs were only a few in number, eight stallions and five mares, and of these only one stallion was born and raised in France, while six of them came from Syria and one from Russia; the mares, however, were all French bred, except the prize mare, which was Russian; the prize stallion was one of the Syrians.

Previous to 1870 few Arab horses were bought by the French, but since that time the stallions have been extensively employed in the National Haras, though private owners are still rare. Arabs are more particularly used in France for military mounts, some of the officers having very fine specimens. Many of the horses called Syrian,

* A notable feature of the show was the absence of foreign exhibitors. In 1878 both Hungary and Russia were well represented, and in 1889 both were absent; there were no animals from Italy, Denmark, or Spain, and the English, though they showed a few draft horses and about twenty half-breeds and trotters, did not do so well as they did at the previous Exposition. A few draft and other horses were sent from the United States, but Belgium was the only country making a serious show. Prizes to the amount of 30,700 francs were offered for blood horses, 64,500 for draft horses, and 11,800 for trotters, in all amounting to 106,700 francs, or over $20,000.

and said to be of Arabian blood, have none of the characteristics of this race whatever.

English Thoroughbreds, or as they are called in France, the English race, were more numerous in 1889 than in 1878, there being sixteen stallions and forty-two mares. Among these were to be seen some horses which had a name upon the turf, such as winners of the annual Grand Prix de Paris, or the Jockey Club prize, and for one splendid specimen, "Stuart," his owner, M. Donon, had recently refused 500,000 francs ($100,000). The prize stallion of the show,“Saxifrage," was a magnificent animal, full of vigor and splendid in form and construction.

Anglo-Arabs.-These were few in number, and did not compare well in quality with those shown in 1878. The breed, however, is steadily growing in favor, although it was at first strongly opposed by many, notably by the Paris Jockey Club, which in 1835 refused to admit pure Arabs to the same consideration as the English race. Later, in 1853, they also proscribed the Anglo-Arab although this breed had by that time become generalized, especially in the south and in the mountainous central districts of France. The Haras law of 1874, however, came to the relief of the breed, and gave, so to speak, official existence to all three varieties, the Arab, the English Thoroughbred, and the Anglo-Arab, and it is precisely this latter variety which is now most appreciated at the Haras, while the English race stands third in favor, though most appreciated by the turf. England does not possess better race horses than France, and the Arabian race is gradually losing its prestige in Europe. The Anglo-Arab is, in fact, steadily increasing in favor, and will, if carefully and scientifically raised, do much toward improving the larger part of the horses of France. The pure Arab will probably never acquire numerical importance in Europe. The pure English is increasing in numbers, but the Anglo-Arab promises better than either of the other two, and will promise better yet, provided its powers are not abused. It would seem that in the Anglo-Arab the two constituting races fortify each other, each supplying what the other lacks, and thus making a more perfect production.

Barbs. In 1878 this Algerian race was not represented. In 1889, however, there were exhibited five stallions and fourteen mares, most of these coming from the Department of Oran. It is a pity that a more important exhibition could not have been made. This race is very useful as a source of cavalry horses for the French army, for which it is well fitted. The Barb or Barbary horse is not, as has generally been stated, a simple variety of the Arabian horse. It is indigenous to that portion of northern Africa, included in Algeria and Morocco, and was introduced into Europe and well known there long before the advent of the Arabian, and in the reign of Henry VIII was in especial favor in England.

When the French invaded Algeria in 1830 the Barb was the pre

dominant race there, and the nomad life of the natives had contributed to its development, making it of great strength, swiftness, and endurance. The war which followed and the consequent famine and ruin of the Arab chiefs, and especially the admixture of foreign races, brought about a degeneration, which has since been but partially remedied. There were in 1888, in Algeria, 171,562 horses, of which 139,820 were of the native race and 31,742 were foreign. Notwithstanding this large number of native horses and the opportunities offered by the country, horse-raising does not flourish in Algeria as it should: many of the colonists do not cover expenses and the native breeders are the only successful ones.

The Service des Remontes Militaires, which in Algeria occupies the same position as the Haras administration in France, has done all it could in the way of trying to introduce new blood by means of well chosen stallions coming from France, and the ministry of agriculture has occupied itself in the same direction, but these efforts have been of no avail. The true remedy is to be found not in the introduction of new blood but in judicious matching in the same race, appropriate hygiene, and better feeding. Thus the war horse, agricultural horse, or horse for general use may be obtained in an improved condition. Crossing is only necessary for the production of the very finest animals, and it should never be done except with animals of similar race, such as the Arab, the Anglo-Arab, or the thoroughbred English, or even the Pyrenees race, all of which have more or less oriental blood in their veins.

The true Barb stands about 1.50 meters (4 feet 11 inches, or 14 hands 3 inches) in height and has a spare head, thin lips, and small mouth. The eye is large and the expression is calm in repose, but animated while in motion; the shoulders are strong and the withers high and thick, while the back and loins are short and broad, and the croup is also short and sloping; the tail is badly attached and the thighs are thin; the limbs are remarkably long and strong, and are not always irreproachably straight, especially the hinder ones, but these faults are compensated by hardiness, vigor, and endurance.

The Barb differs then from the Arabian in having a short back, loins, and croup and long and not particularly straight limbs and in not having such general beauty of form. The race has degenerated, though not so much as not to be still easily susceptible of improvement.

French cross-bred Horses or Half-bloods.-These breeds, generally crosses of the English thoroughbred with the native French Normandy, Vendeau, Saintonge, or other races, are much esteemed in the countries bordering upon France as improvers of ordinary stock.

A magnificent show of them was made, there being no less than 806 entries. Among these the best improvement was to be seen

among the Anglo-Normans. Formerly but little care was taken in Normandy in horse-raising of this class, but of late improvement has been made year by year, until now these horses are all that can be desired. There is no definite type of pure Norman horse. At certain localities in that country, for instance upon the plains around Caen, horses are raised, but not bred, the breeding being done in the Cotentin, Bessin, or the valley of the Ange and the colts being sent to Caen while quite young. At Merlerault (Orne), however, the farmers produce and raise their own colts. The Cotentin horses are especially valued for fine carriage horses. This particular breed having been anciently crossed with Spanish and Danish races had acquired undesirable form of head, which it has since lost through crossing with the English race.

Poitou and the Charentes also sent fine carriage horses, which all showed the influence of the rich pastures of those regions.

The Marais mares were especially admired, but the stallions of the same breeding are not so successful, and the Anglo-Norman stallion should be employed there. The Breton horses were wonderfully good and surprising progress was shown, especially in chevaux de luxe closely resembling the Anglo-Normans and mostly coming from Finisterre. Progress was also manifested in the horses sent from Limousin and the Hautes-Pyrénées.

The French trotters belong to the category of half-bloods as also do all the circus and hippodrome horses in France. Of trotting horses there was a good exhibit of eleven stallions and fourteen mares, mostly from Normandy. There were, however, no Russian or American trotters, which was to be regretted, as the American trotter would easily have taken first rank. Such were evidently expected, however, as the conditions of entry for trotters stated that both stallions and mares must have won at public races at least the sum of 3,000 francs ($600) and must have made records as follows: French horses, a kilometer in 1 minute 50 seconds. English and Americans, a mile (1,609 meters) in 2 minutes 57 seconds. Russians, a verst (1,066 meters) in 1 minute 57 seconds. Trotting was formerly sneered at by the Jockey Club, but now it is almost as com mon as ordinary racing. France does not as yet possess a properly so-called trotting race such as exists in the United States, but will eventually have one, and trotting genealogies are now kept.

Draft Horses.-The show of these was particularly important, as it also was in 1878. Draft horses were divided into eight categories, classed according to age, sex, and stature, and contributions were made from England, Belgium, and France. The English horses were very uniform in size and were very large, but the Clydesdales have flat and poor hoofs, and seem to be made to walk upon soft ground only. The Belgian horses are not less large than the English and have no better hoofs and do not seem any better suited for