CATTLE AND SHEEP. 9 



lected individuals, previously brought to a certain age, or 

 point, of maturity, we think that the claim is well founded. 

 Our qualification has reference to the previous history of 

 the animals. As we hinted above, we must begin at the 

 beginning. We have no doubt, we might almost say ex- 

 perience has proved, that if 1000 short-horned females 

 were subjected to the breeding process in competition with 

 1000 West Highlanders, Devons, or Herefords, not only 

 in the first named would there be more failures of produce, 

 but among the products there would be more animals of low 

 quality, coarse, and utterly exceptionable, than would be 

 the case in any of the three old races. As little doubt 

 have we that 1000 Leicester ewes would produce fewer 

 lambs, and among those fewer more rickety, wry-necked, 

 and turn-in-the-head, than 1000 ewes of any other breed. 

 This is because, though art may improve upon nature, it 

 never can become so unvarying and sure in its operation. 

 The varieties and incongruities which have been introduced 

 on account of their connexion with some coveted quality, 

 will from time to time re-appear. The concoctor of a new 

 breed is always liable to disappointment. He introduces 

 into his herd some unknown animal on account of certain 

 apparent excellences, but he cannot tell what qualities, 

 though latent in the individual, run in the blood. The 

 flat side, vulgar head, or hard flesh of some paternal or 

 maternal ancestor may re-appear in the offspring. We 

 have heard Mr. Buckley of Normanton, the owner of one 

 of the oldest and purest flocks of Leicester sheep, say 

 that, from time to time, gray faces and black feet appeared 

 among his lambs. We have before us a letter from the 

 late Earl Spencer to a friend, who had consulted him on a 

 point in breeding, in which he says, " Your cross will not 

 justify a very high-priced bull, but, in order to secure you 

 against anything monstrous in his stock, you must ascer- 

 tain that you have several generations of real good blood." 

 With such incidents a breeder of horses is familiar. He 

 selects a bay mare with black legs, and unites her with a 



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