iv PREFACE. 



may be drawn from them in explaining the practice 

 of the most successful breeders. 



It is believed that a systematic statement of what 

 is already known in the practice of the art is of greater 

 importance, at the present time, than any new truths, 

 as it must furnish the only consistent foundation for 

 future progress and improvement. 



The numerous cases that have been collected to 

 illustrate the various topics under discussion have 

 been compiled, as far as possible, from original sources 

 and presented in their original form references, in 

 nearly all cases, being given to the works from which 

 they are quoted. 



Tin's feature of the work will be of interest to the 

 student who wishes to study the subject in greater 

 detail, as it will, to some extent, serve as an index to 

 authorities that may be profitably consulted. 



In the limits of a popular work it is of course im- 

 possible to treat each topic exhaustively, and the at- 

 tempt has been made to present only such an outline 

 of the principles of the art as would be required in 

 a text-book for students, or a work of reference for 

 farmers. 



The acknowledgments of the author are due to 

 the well-known animal-artist John K. Page, of Sen- 

 nett, New York, for the spirited illustrations in the 

 chapter on " Form," all of which are from life, with 



