GREATNESS AND DECLINE OF THE PERCHERONS.
CHAPTER I.
GLANCE AT PERCHE.
The Department of Perche is too well known to need a description here. We will limit ourselves to the remark that this region, which has become so celebrated for its fine race of horses, represents an ellipse of about 25 leagues long by nearly 20 broad.
This ellipse is bounded on the north by Normandy; on the west, also by Normandy, and by Maine; on the east, by the portion of Beauce including Chartrain and Dunois; on the south, by the Vendomois—three portions of the ancient Orleanais.
At the present time, enclosed in the center of the four departments, Orne, Eure and Loir, Loir and Cher, and Sarthe, the territory of Perche comprises the following divisions:
1st.—The district of Mortagne (department of Orne);
2nd.—The district of Nogent-le-Rotrou, and a portion of those of Chartres, Dreux, and Chateaudun (department of Eure and Loir);
3rd.—All the western side of the district of Vendôme (department of Loir and Cher);
4th.—The eastern portion of the districts of Mamers and Saint Calais (department of Sarthe).