HUSK — IN-BREEDING 



Husk. — A short, harsh cough, which frequently be- 

 comes chronic unless attended to, as it should be. It 

 usually is associated with distemper, worms, or indiges- 

 tion. (See Cough, Distemper, Indigestiouy Wonns.) 



Hybrids. — Canine hybrids are not common, for the 

 simple reason that when produced there is no use for 

 them, and they are not usually prepossessing in appear- 

 ance. The dog, however, will breed freely with the wolf 

 or jackal, to which he is undoubtedly allied, but not with 

 the fox, in spite of the stories received relating to the 

 existence of such hybrids. The latter are doubtless the 

 result of some impression being made on the imagination 

 of a pregnant bitch by a fox, as no naturahst has been 

 found to substantiate the existence of a dog and fox hybrid. 

 All stories which refer to dog and fox hybrids should 

 be accepted with the strongest suspicion. This hint is 

 rendered necessary by the frequency with which alleged 

 instances have been told of. (See Evolution,) 



I 



In-breeding or Sibbing is a fruitful source of constitu- 

 tional weakness and loss of size amongst dogs, and if 

 carried on too far is therefore a practice to be deprecated. 

 No doubt, however, some of the toy varieties owe their 

 existence to a system of close in-breeding, and to this 

 much of their delicacy is unquestionably due. At the 

 same time in-breeding, if judiciously carried out, is most 

 useful in assisting to fix certain characteristics which 

 belong to a family and which it is desired to retain, and 

 no doubt many strains have benefited by it, the Laverack 

 setter being a case in point, but when it was carried 

 too far the dogs became weaker and lost size. Still, 

 in-breeding is to be recommended when out-crosses are 

 being prepared; but once more the advice may be expressed 

 that caution must be exercised. (See Breeding.) 



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