28 ON BREEDING AND REARING ANIMALS. 



to obtain, viz., the possession of a stock, in every 

 respect adapted to the nature, and localities, of 

 his situation and circumstances. 



Sir John Sinclair also says, " Sir John Sea- 

 " bright tried many experiments, by breeding in 

 " and in, with dogs, fowls, and pigeons, and 

 " found the breeds uniformly degenerate.'* But 

 it may be remarked, that pigeons, dogs, and fowls, 

 from their long domestication, are already as much 

 removed from a state of nature, as nature will 

 admit of; and being bred and fed more to please 

 the fancy than for any defined object, it frequently 

 happens that the most desired qualities are the 

 effect of disease or distortion ; and, therefore, on 

 the principles laid down, it might be expected, 

 that weak, diseased, or defective males and fe- 

 males being selected and paired, would produce 

 those that are still more so. 



Sir John Sinclair again says, *' A gentleman 

 " who tried the experiment with pigs, brought 

 " them at last into such a state, that the female 

 " gave over breeding ahnost entirely, and when 

 " they did breed, their produce was so small 

 " and delicate, that they died as soon as they 

 " were born." Here also an effect is mistaken 

 for a cause ; these failures evidently arose from 

 original defect, and a peculiar selection in pair- 

 ing having been carried to an extreme, and 



