Permanence and Evolution. 45 



that the breeder's art is " founded on the axiom 

 that like produces like," not on the mutability 

 of race characters ; it is in fact at bottom the 

 art of distinguishing slight sub-divisions where 

 previously nothing has been seen but that which 

 is in common. So that when Youatt says that 

 the power of selection enables the agriculturist 

 not only to modify the character of his flock, 

 but to change it altogether, what is meant is, 

 the destruction of inferior members, and the 

 multiplication of favourite strains. No doubt 

 the first individuals selected do not exhibit. the 

 desired characters as much as their descendants 

 will, but then it is only after selection that the 

 desired types are freed from admixture with 

 inferior forms. We know that in highly bred 

 animals, of which the pedigrees are preserved, 

 every strain has its marked characters, is in fact 

 a little race to itself. 



It is said that while the great effect 

 produced on a breed by one superior stallion 



