LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES , 125 



offspring. As soon as it is able to stand nicely, gentle exercise may be 

 allowed. 



Having reached the period when the young creature is brought into the 

 world, it may be well now to discuss very briefly some of the circumstances 

 which control its character, as well as stamp its form. Beginning with the 

 influence of the parent, I may state that the most popular theory is that the 

 male has the greater influence in determining the character of the produce, 

 but I have known of so many instances where the characteristics of the mother 

 were retained, that I am inclined to think, in many cases, neither parent 

 can be regarded as possessing superior powers for developing the character of 

 the progeny; but the popular idea being so much in favor of the male's pos- 

 sessing these superior qualities, has led to his being selected with greater care 

 regarding his pedigree, form, action, disposition, and constitution, while it is 

 too often thought that anything in the shape of a female is good enough to 

 breed from ; and, as I believe the better bred and more vigorous animal has 

 the greater power in stamping the offspring, I think this in a great measure 

 accounts for so many young possessing the superior merits of the sire. 



Theoretically speaking, it is often supposed that the male gives the external 

 form to the young, while the internal organs resemble those of the mother, 

 indeed the appearance of many hybrids has great weight in establishing this 

 theory. Take the mule for instance, which is the produce of the male ass 

 and the mare ; here we have the external form of a slightly modified Jack, 

 we have the long ears, the slender legs, the contracted feet, thin tail of the 

 Jack, while the belly is round and smooth, resembling the mare. Then on the 

 other hand, take the hinny, which is the produce of the stallion and the 

 female ass, here we have the external form of a slightly modified horse, the 

 ears, mane, tail, legs, and feet resembling that animal in a marked degree, 

 while the belly is small and tucked up; but these rules are not always borne 

 out practically, for I have known many animals that would puzzle the great- 

 est expert to tell whether the sire was a horse or jack. In fact it is a common 

 expression among breeders " that such and such an animal breeds after itself, 

 or the sire, as the case may be." So it is plain that the characteristics of 

 both parents are modified to a greater or less extent in the offspring. 



While speaking of the influence of the parents upon the young, I may 

 mention some interesting and well authenticated cases where the influence of 

 the male extended even beyond his own immediate get, through the female 

 that he had impregnated to her offspring by another sire, or, as it is sometimes 

 called, "the influence of previous impregnation." 



One of the most interesting cases of this nature was a mare belonging to 

 the Earl of Morton, which was impregnated by a Quagga (a species of zebra), 

 to which she produced a striped colt, and this mare produced striped colts 

 for several years afterwards, although bred to stallions without such marks. 

 Indeed there are cases almost without number where mares which have been 

 bred to jacks and produced mules, but their progeny for years afterwards 

 resembled the jack, nor is this confined to the equine race, for there are cases 

 recorded in which polled heifers have been served by short horn bulls, and in 

 after years when served by bulls of their own breed they produced calves 

 resembling the short horns. There are many cases of this description also, but 

 perhaps these are suflBcient to show that offspring of an animal is not to be 

 depended upon if she has conceived by one of another breed, indeed some 

 even go so far as to regard the dams in the light of a cross, and there seems 

 to be some reason in it. 



