248 [Sena 



outward form, color, hair, &c.,to resemble the sire. Many examples 

 might be cited in support of this theory. Many farmers have noticed 

 how much more likely their animals are to inherit the diseases of their 

 dams, than their sires. When we consider that the animal is sup- 

 ported during the foetal stage of its existence entirely from the blood 

 of the mother, and that this blood circulating through every part of 

 the system would, of course, be affected by the state of the animal's 

 health, this consequence would seem to be perfectly natural. 



On the other hand it has been noticed that the outward features of 

 the sire, more frequently than those of the dam, are enstamped on the 

 progeny. This has been attributed to the nervous influence of the 

 dam — or what is called the influence of the imagination of the dam 

 on the foetus. Practical men believe there is something in this. Pro- 

 fessional breeders avail themselves of the principle in giving to their 

 animals some desired marks or qualities. It must have been something 

 akin to this, by the influence of which, through the medium of peel- 

 ed rods, Jacob caused the cattle to be born " ringed, streaked, and 

 speckled." Breeders of horses sometimes take great pains to operate 

 on the imagination of the mare, and thus produce in the foal certain 

 characteristics. At the time of conception, or within the first month 

 afterwards, the foetus seems to be particularly susceptible to this influ- 

 ence, and it is not difiicult to produce the changes spoken of. Some 

 striking instances of the effect of this sympathetic influence might be 

 given. One of the most remarkable, perhaps, as showing the evi- 

 dence of anterior excitement, is that of a mare, seven-eighths of 

 Arabian blood, after having produced a foal by a stallion quagga, (a 

 species of zebra,) continued, after a lapse of five years to reproduce 

 the markings of that animal, at three successive births, although the 

 sire of all the subsequent progeny was a thorough bred Arab horse. 

 This is a well authenticated fact, and correct portraits of the mare, 

 the hybrid, the three foals which the mare afterwards had by the 

 horse, the latter showing the stripes of the quagga, are preserved.* 



The influence of one black sheep, though it may never have any pro- 

 geny, is often noticed in causing black iambs. Shepherds who have 

 kept black dogs with their sheep, have observed the same efi"ect. The 

 nervous influence of animals in a state of pregnancy, shows itself very 

 conspicuously in the efl"ects of fright on the offspring. Many cases of 

 this kind might be cited in the human species, as well as in our do- 

 mestic animals. 



* See Naturalists' Library, Mammalia, vol. 12, p. 342, &c. 



