46 England's horses, 



argue that one stallion's influence upon posterity is cent, 

 per cent, greater than one mare's. 



Nature, the " universal mother "and unerring law-giver 

 in her own domain, in her untrammelled Avorkings, supports 

 this theory practically, or why should we see in wild flocks 

 and herds that the favours of the females are submissively 

 rendered to that " lord of the harem," who, from superior 

 physical powers and puissance in combat Avith other aspi- 

 rants of his sex and kind, has maintained, by individual 

 power and prowess, a determinedly contested supremacy ? 

 It may be inferred he is the best, or one of the best of the 

 herd he represents, be he stag or stallion, and that, Avas 

 there not some innate influence direct from the Creator 

 that impresses his kind with a lasting homage during the 

 period of his ascendancy, animal nature would suggest re- 

 newed conflict more generally on the part of those indivi- 

 duals that had been worsted in the muscular and nervine 

 contests necessarily preceding the established sway of the 

 reigning lord. For we see an undeflnable laAV, exercising 

 influence under natural administration, to retain in peaceable 

 and undisturbed possession of his offices that male that has 

 proved himself a peer amongst his kind, and Avhose thews, 

 sinews, and pluck have placed him in a proud supremacy, 

 entrusted with the transmission of his species. In the face 

 of such a system, resulting from natural laAvs, Avhat right 

 have we to attempt any digression in application in the 

 propagation of horses for domestic uses and the exigencies 

 of war. No doubt it was a similar course of observation 

 and train of reasoning that suggested to the late Rev. J. H. 

 Berry to record that.- only one rational course can he 

 adopted by breeders, viz., that of resorting to the best male, 

 "a simple efficacious mode of improving such stock as 

 required improvement, and the only proceeding by which, 

 stock already good, can be preserved in excellence." 



