874 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ferred from October, 1911, to October, 1912, with data as to the age, breed, and 

 conditiou of soundness, and a summary of results and general conclusions in 

 the horse-feeding experiments reported in Bulletin 186 (see p. 873). 



How the English are breeding polo ponies to type, T. F. Dale {Spur, 12 

 {1913), No. 8, pp. 22, 23, figs. 2). — An account of the establishment in England 

 of a polo pony type, tracing to the native breeds of ponies, Welsh, Exmoor, and 

 Dartmoor, together with the English thoroughbred. 



A wild pony fair {Spur, 12 {1913), No. 9, pp. 38, 39, figs. .?).— An appreciation 

 of the value of the Welsh and Exmoor wild ponies as foundation stock for the 

 breeding of remounts for mounted infantry service. It is said that a cross with 

 a suitable thoroughbred should produce a horse about 14.2 hands high, speedy, 

 kind, hardy, capable of foraging for himself, and easy to mount. Wild pony 

 fairs are held in March, June, October, and November in Bampton, England, at 

 which times many of these hardy animals are bought and distributed over the 

 country. 



Investigations on the primary gonocytes during the period of sexual 

 indifference and the development of the ovaries in the fowl, J. Firket {Anat. 

 Anz., U {1913), No. 8-9, pp. 166-175).— From a review of the work of others 

 along this line and as the result of studies made by himself, the author con- 

 cludes that (1) these gonocytes are displaced by movements of their own 

 analogous to those of leucocytes; (2) they are of sexual nature because they 

 pass through phases typical of those in the evolution of sexual cells; (3) a 

 large part of them degenerate in the fowl ; it can not be affirmed whether or 

 not some give rise to fully developed ovules in the cortical zone of the ovary; 

 (4) a second line of sexual cells exists in birds; it is from these that the 

 majority of definite ovules originate. The terms primary gonocytes and 

 secondary gonocytes are therefore justified. 



A bibliography of 16 titles is included. 



Jumping conformation, St. Gatien {Live Stock Jour. [London], 78 {1913), 

 No. 2055, pp. 195, 196). — -The author regards as desirable "good, broad loins, 

 muscular and powerful quarters, and stout hind legs, constituting, so to speak, 

 the fundamental basis upon which good jumping powers are built up." The 

 hocks should be especially strong and should be well let down, the distance be- 

 tween the point of the hip bone and the hock joint being as great as possible. 

 It is noted that a well-sloped position of the pelvis facilitates jumping, the 

 explanation being that horses iwssessing the sloping or drooping quarters are 

 particularly favorably placed for bringing their hind legs well underneath the 

 body when preparing to leap. Jumpers should be light in front, with sloping 

 shoulders, thus aiding in taking off the jump as well as in coming to the ground 

 easily. The fore legs should be as tough and stout as possible, as they bear 

 the whole force of the leap when they first come to the ground. Shortness of 

 back is also desired in a jumper, denoting strength and durability. 



Breeding for heavy egg production, R. Pearl {Rel. PouUry Jour., 20 {1913), 

 No. 7, pp. 812, 813, 860-862).— This is a popular exposition of technical work 

 previously reported (E. S. R., 28, pp. 576). 



The author summarizes the general rules for the breeding of poultry for 

 heavy egg production as follows: (1) Selection of all breeding birds, first on 

 the basis of constitutional vigor and vitality, which should be determined by 

 their normal growth, their performance in respect to the vitality of their chicks 

 (this being charged up against the dam), their freedom of or immunity against 

 sickness, and their longevity. "(2) The use as breeders of such females only 

 SIS have shown themselves by trap-nest records to be high producers, since it 

 is only from such females that there can be any hope of getting males capable 



