CROSS BREEDING — CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER 



from exhibition is both unnecessary and inexpedient to 

 describe the operation. 



Cross Breeding, in the sense of mating two animals of 

 different breeds, is productive of no good results in these 

 modern days, though unquestionably many popular varieties 

 have been manufactured by this means. The latest pro- 

 duction of the kind is the so-called Irish wolf-hound, and the 

 bull terrier is another case in point, so too is the dropper, 

 which is a cross between the pointer and setter ; whilst 

 beyond all doubt several other well-known varieties are 

 indebted for some of their attractiveness to other breeds. 



Crosses are, however, imperatively necessary for a 

 breeder to employ from time to time, as unless some 

 desirable outside blood of the same breed is introduced 

 into his strain it is certain that the constitutions and value 

 of his dogs will suffer from the effects of inbreeding. The 

 greatest care should, however, be taken in selecting such 

 crosses, as the taint of an unworthy sire may appear in 

 his descendants generations after his blood came into the 

 strain, and hence not merely the appearance of a sire, but 

 his breeding and the peculiar characteristics of the family 

 he belongs to, must be the care of every careful breeder. 

 (See Brood Bitchy Inbreeding.^ 



Curled Tail. — A curled tail is regarded as a great dis- 

 figurement to most dogs, but of course there are notable 

 exceptions, such as the pug, the Pomeranian, the Chow- 

 Chow, and the Esquimaux. Very few breeds, however, 

 possess absolutely straight tails, nor as a matter of fact 

 should they do so ; but there is a very great deal of 

 difference between the graceful, scimitar-shaped caudal 

 appendages of such varieties as the setter, coUie, and many 

 beautiful breeds and the frightful curled tails which dis- 

 figure mongrels. 



Curly-coated Retriever. — This old breed of sporting 



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