206 HORSES AND ROADS. 



should be chosen for the purpose of reproducing 

 other perfect ones. If there is anything wanting 

 or anything superfluous, we must be aware that it 

 will show itself in some way or other in the foal, and 

 generally in the spot where either the sire or the 

 dam exhibited a like defect. Spavins, &c., are 

 justly ascribed to shoeing as their principal cause ; 

 leave off shoeing and you reduce the prevalence of 

 such kinds of ossification. 'Like produces like.' 

 The tailless breed of Manx cats was produced only 

 by persistently amputating the tails of all kittens, 

 until there was not left upon the island a tail to 

 reproduce another one. Within the memory of the 

 writer a good sheep dog was supposed to be obtain- 

 able only if he had been pupped without a tail, or a 

 curt apology for one. All those who dared to bring 

 tails into the world with them were condemned to 

 the horse-pond. Within his memory, the same law 

 held good in France with regard to the poodle. 

 Now-a-days a good tail is an important point in both 

 the colley and the poodle ; so much so, that neither 

 colley nor poodle possessing a < stump ' would be 

 admitted to a show or fetch three halfpence any- 

 where. 



' Men change with travel, 



Manners change with climes, 

 Tenets with books, 



And principles with times/ 



Entire horses mostly save their tails in their entirety ; 

 strictly speaking, they would not be entire unless 

 they did. So also do many mares ; but if we were 



