AXIOMS FOR THE BKEEDEIi's USE. 175 



colors, etc., for twenty generations, is often known, and then the 

 evidence of the truth of these facts is patent to all. Among these 

 dogs there is a well-known strain descended from a greyhound 

 with a peculiar nose, known as the "Parrot-nosed bitch." About 

 the year 1825 she was put to a celebrated dog called " Streamer," 

 and bred a bitch called " Ruby," none of the litter showing this 

 peculiar nose ; nor did " Ruby " herself breed any in her first two 

 litters; but in her third, by a dog called " Blackbird," belonging 

 to Mr. Hodgkinson, two puppies showed the nose ("Blackbird" 

 and "Starling"). In the same litter was a most celebrated bitch, 

 known as " Old Linnet," from which are descended a great num- 

 ber of first-rate greyhounds. In these, however, this x>eculiarity 

 has never appeared, with two exceptions, namely, once in the third 

 generation, and once in the fifth, in a dog called " Lollypop," bred 

 by Mr. Thomas, of Macclesfield, the possessor of the whole strain. 

 One of the bitches of this breed is also remarkable for having al- 

 ways one blue pu-ppy in each litter, though the color is otherwise 

 absent, never having been seen since the time of the above men- 

 tioned " Ruby," who was a blue bitch. These facts are very re- 

 markable as showing the tendency to " throw back " for genera- 

 tions, but, as they are well known and fully recognized by all 

 breeders, it is unnecessai-y to dilate upon them, and the above 

 instances are only introduced as absolutely proving to the uniniti- 

 ated what would otherwise depend upon dogmatic assertion. 



AXIOMS FOR THE BREEDER'S USE. 



But it may be asked,— What then are the principles upon which 

 breeding is to be conducted ? To this, in many of the details, no 

 answer can be given which can be relied on with certainty. 

 Nevertheless, there are certain broad landmarks established which 

 afford some assistance, and these shall be given, taking care to 

 avoid all rules which are not clearly established by general 

 consent. 



