216 PRINCIPLES OF STOCK-BREEDING. 



that the male had the greatest influence in determin- 

 ing the characters of the offspring, became quite 

 popular, from the apparent indorsement it received 

 by the society, as it was the only one of the prize 

 essays that was published in full. 



As the cases cited by Mr. Boswell in proof of his 

 theory are, almost without exception, susceptible of a 

 different interpretation, the males used being more 

 highly bred than the females, and therefore likely to 

 be prepotent in the transmission of their qualities, his 

 conclusions as to the superior influence of the male 

 are not sustained by the evidence presented. More- 

 over, we find on record a large number of as striking 

 instances of the resemblance of the offspring to the 

 female parent, which, in themselves, must be fatal to 

 the theory. 



In the essay by Mr. Berry, a preponderance of the 

 influence of either parent on account of sex is denied. 

 The best-bred animal, however, is believed to have 

 the greatest influence in determining the peculiarities 

 of the offspring. Of the instances given by Mr. Berry 

 to illustrate his position, the following are quoted on 

 account of their bearing upon the theory of Mr. Bos- 

 well, already noticed : " The writer," says Mr. Berry, 

 " has been for some years in possession of an improved 

 breed of pigs, which are chiefly of a sandy or brown 

 color. His sows of this breed crossed with common 

 boars almost invariably produce litters of pigs of their 

 own color. At the present moment he has a litter of 

 eleven pigs from a brown sow of the improved breed, 

 by a black-and-white boar of the common breed. 

 The young pigs possess all the characteristics of the 



