84 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



coupling of animals, a matter which has often been deemed of little 

 consequence in ix'gard to cattle, inasmuch as fewer heifers' first 

 calves are reared, tluin of such as are borne subsequently. 



Another faint ray of li^lit touciiing the causes of variation is 

 afl'orded us by the fact tlial ihc (jualities of offspring are not only 

 dependent on the habitual conditions of the parents, but also upon 

 any peculiar condition existing at the time of sexual congress. 

 For instance, the ofl'spring of parents ordinarily health}'^ aiul tem- 

 perpate, but begotten in a fit of intoxication, would be likely to 

 suO'er permanently, both physically aiul mentally, from the condi- 

 tion which the i)arcnts had temporarily brought upon themselves. 

 On the other hand, offspring begotten of parents in an unusually 

 healthy and ;uli\(! condition of body and mind, would likely be 

 unusually endowed bnlh mentally and physically. The Arabs in 

 breeding horses take advantage of this fact, for before intercourse, 

 both sire and dam are actively exercised, not to weariness, but 

 sufficiently to induce the most vigorous condition j)ossible. Of 

 this, too, we have proof in the phenomenon sometimes observed by 

 breeders, that a strong mental impression made upon the female 

 by a particular male, will give the olTspring a resond)lance to him, 

 oven though she have no sexual intercourse with him. Of this, 

 ]Mr. Boswell in his prize essay published in 1828, gives a remarka- 

 ble instance. He says that Mr. Mustard of Angus, one of the 

 most intelligent bi*eeders he had ever met witli, told liini that one 

 of his cows chanced to come into season while pastuiing on a field 

 biiiiiided by that of one of his noiglibors, out ol" wliich Held an ox 

 jumped and went with Ihc cow until she was brought liomc to the 

 bull. Tlie ox was white, Avith black spots, and horned. J\Ir. INlus- 

 tard had not a horned beast in his possession, noi- onv. with any 

 white on it. Nevertheless, the produce of the lollowiiig spring was 

 a black anil white calf with horns. 



Th(> case of Jacob is often (pu)tcd in su[)i)orl of lliis view, and 

 although many believe some miraculous agency to have been ex- 

 erted in his case, and tliough he coidd say witli tiuth, "God hath 

 taken away the cattle of your father aTid given them to me," it 

 seems, on the wlioh', more probable, inasmui'h as sui)ernatural 

 agency may nevci- lie |iresuined, e.\cepl where we know, or have 

 good reason tobeliexc, llial natural causes are insullicieiit. that God 

 "gave" them, as he now gives to some, riches or lionors : that is to 

 sny, by virtue of the operation of luitural laws. If all wlio keep 

 cattle would exercise a tithe of tlie patriarch's shrewdm^ss and 



