88 PRINCIPLES OF STOCK-BREEDING. 



Mr. Darwin states that " black dogs, with tan-col- 

 ored feet, whatever breed they may belong to, almost 

 invariably have a tan-colored spot on the upper and 

 inner corners of each eye, and their lips are generally 

 thus colored." l 



According to the same author, " white cats, if they 

 have blue eyes, are almost always deaf." 



In the cases cited it is shown that, if there is the 

 " least speck of color on their fur," or if even but one 

 eye is not blue, the sense of hearing is not lost ; and, 

 in one instance, in which the iris at the end of four 

 months began to grow " dark-colored," the cat then 

 began to hear. 9 



It has been remarked that a white spot or blaze on 

 the face of a horse is usually accompanied by white 

 feet. 



In the deer tribe, Prof. Baird notices a singular 

 correlation of the horns and organs of reproduction. 

 He says : " In all deer, except, perhaps, the reindeer, 

 if the male be castrated when the horns are in a state 

 of perfection, these will never be shed ; if the opera- 

 tion be performed when the head is bare, they will 

 never be reproduced ; and, if done when the secretion 

 is going on, a stunted, ill-formed, permanent horn is 

 the result." 3 



Mr. Youatt remarks that a " multiplicity of horns 

 is not found in any breed (of sheep) intrinsically of 

 much value. It is generally accompanied by great 

 length and coarseness of fleece, and which, in the ma- 



1 " Animals and Plants under Domestication," vol. i., p. 42. 



5 Loc. cit., vol. ii., p. 396. 



8 "Patent-Office Report," Part II., "Agriculture," 1851, p. 111. 



