CHAPTEE XII. 



INFLUENCE OF A PREVIOUS IMPREGNATION. 



THE influence of the male in the process of pro- 

 creation is not limited to his immediate offspring, but 

 extends also, through the female that he has impreg- 

 nated, to her offspring by another male. 



Paradoxical as this statement may appear, there 

 are many well-authenticated cases on record that can- 

 not be satisfactorily explained on any other hypothesis. 



In 1815 a chestnut mare, seven-eighths Arabian, 

 belonging to the Earl of Morton, was covered by a 

 quagga (a species of zebra) : the hybrid produce re- 

 sembled the sire in color and in many peculiarities of 

 form. 



"In 1817, 1818, and 1821, the same mare was 

 covered by a very fine black Arabian horse, and pro- 

 duced successively three foals, and, although she had 

 not seen the quagga since 1816, they all bore his 

 curious and unequivocal markings." * 



1 This remarkable case was first published in the " Philosophical 

 Transactions," 1821, p. 20. It has been repeatedly cited by writers on 

 breeding, some of whom have apparently been misled by making quo- 

 tations at second hand. A writer in the Farmer's Magazine mentions 

 the case of " a thorough-bred mare belonging to Sir Gore Ousely," that 

 was covered by a zebra, and, on the authority of Mr. Blane, states that 

 " Lord Morton had a mare covered by a quagga a kind of large ass," 



