No. 112.1 301 



the weak and the unhealthy. lu cold and barren lands, no ani- 

 mals can live to the age of maturity, but those who have strong 

 constitutions ; the weak and the unhealthy do not live to propa- 

 gate their infirmities, as is too often the case with our domestic 

 animals." 



It follows from these facts, that animals which are nearest the 

 natural type of the race, would breed with the most certainty of 

 transmitting their peculiar properties, and wuuld be least likely 

 to degenerate, whether bred from near or remote affinities. Hence 

 it results that natural or aboriginal breeds have less tendency to 

 deviate from a uniform character, than varieties dilfering widely 

 from the original type, or which vv'ere derived from a mixture 

 with the blood of various races. Still, crossing is sometimes ex- 

 pedient, and when managed with judgment may be highly 

 useful.'' 



The latter clause of our text declares that •' when animals pro- 

 perly formed have been obtained,'' breeding in-and-in " is the only 

 method to retain that form." This can only be true in a modi- 

 fied sense, as will be shown. The statement pre- supposes the im- 

 practicability of procuring animals of proper form, not closely 

 allied by consnnguinity. In some instances it is admitted that 

 this may be so, but in many others no such difficulty is seen to 

 exist. In some breeds, the form and properties which are most 

 highly prized, can be obtained in specimens between which we 

 can trace no relati(»n<hip, as the term is commonly imderstood. 

 This remark will a})ply to many kinds of poultry, as turkies, 

 geese, and some kinds of fowls, so called; it will also apply to 

 some breeds of sheep, as the Spanish or Merino, in some degree to 

 the South Down, and prol)Hl)ly with more force to the Scotch 

 Mountain breeds. It will more or less apply to cattle, as the De- 

 von, Galloway and West-Highland breeds. Wo are assured by 

 those who have had the advantacjc of occular examination, that 

 in the Hungarian, and some of the Spanish breeds of cattle, (the 

 latter said to be exceedingly well formed,) the animals are so 

 near alike that it often requires close attention t** tell one from 

 another. It is the same with the most distinct bretds of horses, 

 as the Arabian, the Norman, and some of the English breeds, es- 



