Breeding. 455 



another, and so the dealing breeder does his best to degenerate whatever 

 breed he takes in hand. 



It is hopeless to reform these mercenaries ; but as I wish this book to 

 be really serviceable, I warn the tyro, and all who desire to possess good 

 dogs, to beware of a class that is so widespread. 



CHAPTER II. BREEDING. 



BY CORSINCON. 



I SHALL not attempt to deal with the subject of breeding in all its 

 aspects. There are many questions connected with it still unsettled, 

 and, however interesting the discussion of these, this is not the place for 

 it, even were the writer capable of doing it justice. 



I shall endeavour to confine myself to, and make as clear and explicit 

 as possible, laws to be observed and lines to be followed by all who would 

 breed dogs successfully. That there are such laws enunciated by physio- 

 logists and proved correct by experience no one can doubt, and the 

 want of attention to them is a fruitful source of disappointment. 



One of the very commonest errors of the inexperienced is to expect 

 that the union of two good-looking dogs must of necessity produce 

 handsome pups ; another common and still more fatal mistake is to accept 

 prize winnings, however great, as sufficient credentials of a good sire ; 

 and a third mistake is to look for good pups from a worthless ill-bred 

 bitch, however good the dog she has been bred to. 



Like produces Like. That like produces like is a good maxim for 

 breeders to remember if it be correctly valued, which it can be only when 

 taken in conjunction with other weighty considerations. 



The laws of heredity play an important part, and cannot be left out 

 of the account. But with dog breeders, as a rule, too little attention 

 has been paid to it. 



Throwing Back. Everybody who observes at all knows how common 

 it is to see a child who bears a much stronger resemblance to an uncle, 

 aunt, cousin, or other collateral than to the parents, or in direct line the 



