348 PRINCIPLES OF STOCK-BREEDING. 



diminishes its value for the purposes of the manu- 

 facturer. 



The interests of the breeder of fine-wooled sheep 

 will always be best promoted by the production of a 

 style of wool that is adapted to some special purpose, 

 and that will, therefore, command the highest price 

 in the market. 



A peculiarity that is characteristic of the breed, or 

 of a family of extraordinary excellence, although triv- 

 ial in itself, would, however, be of real value as an 

 indication of the inheritance of the qualities of the 

 breed or family, and could not, therefore, be consid- 

 ered a fancy point. 



The Southdowns bred by Mr. Webb, which were 

 justly celebrated for their superior qualities, had lighter- 

 colored faces and legs than other families of the breed, 

 and the breeders at the present time value the lighter 

 shades of color of the face and legs as representing 

 one of the characteristics of the Webb blood. 



The tan-colored marks on the ears and faces of 

 the merino sheep were highly prized by the early 

 breeders as an indication of the "blood," and they 

 could not, strictly speaking, be called " fancy points," 

 as they represented inherited tendencies that were in 

 themselves valuable. 



For convenience and exactness of expression in 

 discussing the lineage of animals, and in recording 

 pedigrees, the following terms are in use among 

 breeders : 



The term "thorough-bred," in its strict significa- 

 tion, is used to designate the English race-horse, and it 

 has been generally adopted as the name of the breed. 



