Chap. XYII. PREFERENCES IN PAIRING. 271 



chiefly to the smaller breeds, is convinced that the 

 females are strongly attracted by males of large size.*^ 

 The well-known veterinary Blaine states*^ that his own 

 female pug became so attached to a spaniel, and a 

 female setter to a cur, that in neither case would they 

 pair with a dog of their own breed until several weeks 

 had elapsed. Two similar and trustw^orthy accounts 

 have been given me in regard to a female retriever 

 and a spaniel, both of which became enamoured with 

 terrier-do£>:s. 



Mr. Clippies informs me that he can personally vouch 

 fur the accuracy of the following more remarkable case, 

 in which a valuable and wonderfully-intelligent female 

 terrier loved a retriever, belonging to a neighbour, to 

 s'.ich a degree that she had often to be dragged away 

 from him. After their pei-manent separation, althouo'h 

 repeatedly shewing milk in her teats, she would never 

 acknowledge the courtship of any other dog, and to the 

 regret of her owner, never bore puppies. Mr. Cupples 

 also states that a female deerhouud now (1868) in his 

 kennel has thrice produced puppies, and on each 

 occasion shewed a marked preference for one of the 

 largest and handsomest, but not the most eager, of four 

 deer-hounds living with her, all in the prime of life. 

 Mr. Cupples has observed that the female generally 

 favours a dog whom she has associated with and 

 knows ; her shyness and timidity at first incline her 

 agriinst a strange dog. The male, on the contrary, 

 s ems rather inclined towards strange females. It 

 appears to be rare ^hen the male refuses any par- 

 ticular female, but Mr. Wright, of Yeldersley House, 



*' 'Do-s : tlieir Management,' by E. Mayliew, M.E.C.V.S., 2nd edit. 

 1801, p. 187-192. 



^■- Quoted by Alex. "Walker 'On I:itcrmarriage,' 1838, p. 27(3, see 

 also p. 244. 



