BREEDING. 117 



in Cambridgeshire, where he died in 1753, supposed to be 

 29 years of age. 



The Byerly Turk was Captain Byerly's charger in Ireland 

 about 1689, during King William's wars. 



The Darley Arabian was brought over by a brother of 

 Mr. Darley, who was an agent in merchandise abroad. Flying 

 or Devonshire Childers and Bartlett Childers are both attri- 

 buted to this horse 1715. 



To no one does the maxim, Quot homines, tot sententice, bring 

 itself home more forcibly than to the students of the art of 

 horse-breeding. Even in the preparation of this slender narra- 

 tive of the origin of the British racehorse we have been led to 

 peruse many works, to consider many theories, which have been 

 written and upheld by various authorities on the subject, but 

 nowhere have we come across the infallible clue which shall 

 guide a breeder, though most writers can prove their own par- 

 ticular systems by some instances of successful crossing ; be it 

 remarked, however, that although they can adduce the instance 

 in proof, it constantly happens that, though one good foal may 

 result from a certain cross, his brothers or sisters may be very 

 inferior animals ; and still further to perplex and bewilder us, 

 we find that certain mares have thrown nothing but race- 

 horses, or the parents of racehorses, whatever stallion they may 

 have visited. Of this no more remarkable illustration can be 

 adduced than Pocahontas, whose progeny, together with the 

 genealogy of our leading thoroughbreds, will be found presently 

 tabulated. Glencoe, the sire of Pocahontas, was exported to 

 America, and the credit of the best blood of that country is due 

 to him. 



We may here say a few words as to the method which in 

 our opinion should be adopted in endeavouring to attain the 

 nearest approach to perfection in breeding, and we must 

 begin by pointing out an old and commonly practised act of 

 negligence, which not only every veterinary surgeon, but every 

 medical man and all students of animal constitution, would 

 concur in decrying, viz. the want of proper attention to the 



