176 NOTES ON FIELDS AND CATTLE. 



it should be : just for your satisfaction try which will 

 bring the perspiration out best ; and perspiration, 

 remember, is the dissolution of fat. 



In the course of his interesting letters upon the 

 natural curiosities of Selboume, White complains to 

 Mr. Pennant that " the bane of our (the naturalist's) 

 science is the comparing one animal to another by 

 memory." The great African traveller, Livingstone, 

 I notice, does this in regard to the aspect of various 

 tracts of country and soils. 



That the breeder, however, should carry about in 

 his eye different types, is essential to his success. 

 The eye gets soon used to it. He should be able 

 instantaneously to detect any element he requires to 

 combine in his stock. The horse-dealer will match a 

 horse at a glance with another he saw six months since 

 in a different county, and as quickly suit them with an 

 owner. So rapid ultimately does this become, that I 

 would venture to say that an accomplished judge will 

 determine, with his pony at a canter, the best animal 

 in a herd or country market. As the flashing fingers 

 of the practised musician drop instinctively upon the 

 right note, so can the educated eye of the farmer 

 read at first look the merits of a show-yard ; pick 

 out a stepping pony from the throng of market carts, 

 a pigling in his nest, and a game fowl by his stride. 

 Yet arrived at a certain height he must take care not 

 to overlook his practice. Disuse soon brings its mouldy 

 clothing. 



Having written thus much, I do not think that I 

 can instruct you further upon paper. A plan I have 

 found most useful, both to myself and others, is the 



