2G A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



Peculiar or interesting characters are also transmitted 

 from one generation to another. We are usually most im- 

 pressed with the commonest things in animal inheritance, 

 yet there are remarkable characteristics that are well worth 

 attention, and such as demand consideration from the 

 thoughtful stockman. Usually these are valued as breed 

 features, yet in themselves they have no useful attributes. 

 Some examples of these are the following: The solid hoof in 

 the hog is a rare occurrence, except with one breed, the Mule 

 Foot. This characteristic is of no special value, but it has 

 been made the subject of much publicity, and many persons 

 from curiosity have purchased specimens of Mule Foot hogs! 

 A pug-nosed, dished face is a distinct feature of the Small 

 Yorkshire breed of swine. Often these pigs are bred so that 

 the lower jaw projects with an upward curve beyond the 

 short, dished upper jaw, seriously affecting ease of eating. 

 Berkshire breeders in America in late years have also had a 

 tendency to breed these very short, turned-up faces. Such 

 heads are monstrosities, in the same class with those of bull 

 dogs and Boston terriers. Five toes on each foot are found 

 on the Houdan and Dorking breeds of chickens. This num- 

 ber of toes commonly occurs on all good specimens of these 

 two varieties of well-known European fowls, although four 

 is the usual number with other breeds. 



Latent hereditary characters exist in all animal life. By 

 these are meant characteristics that are not visible in any 

 form in one or more generations, yet have occurred in the 

 past, and may again appear at some time in the future. 

 During the past, students of heredity have called such occur- 

 rences "atavism/' while stockmen have been in the habit 

 of referring to them as "throwing back," or "breeding back." 

 For example, we have a case of a family of Aberdeen-Angus 

 cattle, which is a black breed. Very unexpectedly a red 

 calf is dropped in a herd where not a red animal has been 

 known. Yet a careful study of the history of this herd will 



