BREEDING. 473 



sired ; by crossing less improved breeds systematically with males 

 of a better race ; and by crossing animals faulty or deficient in some 

 particular point with others in which this point is developed in excess. 



4. The kenneling of pregnant high-class animals with low bred 

 ones, and the resulting attachments betw^een the two races, are to 

 be especially avoided, as occasionally affecting the progeny injuri- 

 ously ; * strong impressions from a new or unusual condition of 

 surrounding objects are to be equally guarded against. 



5. If a valuable bitch be allowed to breed to an inferior male, 

 she cannot be relied upon to produce pure bred animals, for several 

 succeeding pregnancies, at least. Through a strong and retained 

 impression ; through the absorption into the system of living par- 

 ticles (germinal matter) from the foetus ; or through some influence 

 during pregnancy on the ova, then being most actively developed, 

 the good or bad features of the first sire are perpetuated in the 

 progeny of succeeding ones, 



6. All breeds have a tendency to " throw back," that is, to pro- 

 duce offspring bearing the marks of their less improved and com- 

 paratively valueless ancestors ; hence individuals of this kind must 

 be rejected from the best breeds, if we would maintain their ex- 

 cellence. 



7. Certain bloods and individuals have their characters more 

 fixed, and will transmit and perpetuate them in greater proportion 

 than others with which they may be crossed. If their qualities are 

 desirable, they prove highly valuable in raising other stock of 

 greater excellence ; if undesirable, they will depreciate the value 

 of any stock crossed for many generations. That fixedness of type, 

 however, is above all, a characteristic of those bloods which have 

 been carefully selected and bred up to a certain standard for many 

 generations, so that in the best, longest established, and most es- 

 teemed breeds we have a most valuable legacy left us by the suc- 

 cessful breeders of the past, with which we may mould our inferior 

 bloods at will. 



* The following will serve as an example : A young setter bitch belonging to 

 the writer conceived a violent attachment for an emasculated bull dog with which 

 she was constantly associated. The first time she was served it was by a male of 

 her own species, and was thereafter carefully secured, all possibility of an illicit 

 liaison being prevented. At birth four out of five of the puppies littered were 

 marked like the bull, even partaking in many respects of his features. 



