1804 CYCLOrEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



entirely wantin<T, in muny wild species when , placed in close confine- 

 ment. Domesticated animals are, as a rule, more prolific than the 

 wild; no doubt due in a great measure to a better supply of food 

 throughout the year, and the more uniform condition in which 

 they are placed. The activity of the reproductive organs is necessarily 

 dependent upon the functions of nutrition which supplies the material 

 concerned in the operation. There is a certain degree of antagonism 

 between the nutritive and the generative functions, the one being exe- 

 cuted at the expense of the other. When the function of nutrition is 

 impaired by disease, or when the supply of food is not sufficient for the 

 wants of the system, the reproductive powers suffer a corresponding de- 

 crease in their activity. Sheep bred on rich pastures more frequently 

 produce twins than those pastured on poorer lands. While full feeding 

 seems to increase the fecundity, any excess in the nutritive activity of the 

 system will as readily im})air the powers of reproduction. It is hard to 

 say whether underfeeding or overfeeding has the greater effect on 

 fecundity. To be prolific an animal requires to be kept in moderate 

 condition. There seems to be a marked relation between the size of 

 animals and their fecundity. Throughout the entire animal kingdom 

 the small species of animals appear to be more prolific, and, as a rule, 

 breed at an earlier age and at shorter intervals and produce a greater 

 number of young at a birth. It is a well-known fact that members of 

 certain families of any species are more prolific than members of other 

 families. Among cattle it is said that when twins are produced, a male 

 and a female, the latter, called a free martin, is, as a rule, barren ; when 

 twins are of the same sex the reproductive powers are normal. In free 

 martins the internal generative organs are said to be imperfect, partak- 

 ing of the character of both sexes. In appearance these imperfect 

 animals often resemble males. 



VII. In-Breeding and In-and-in-Breeding. 

 In-breeding indicates the breeding together of distant members of the 

 same family. In-and-in-breeding the breeding together of very near rela- 

 tives. The line of distinction between the terms is very hard to define. 

 Various opinions exist in regard to this line of breeding, many claiming 

 that in-and-in-breeding produces a delicacy of constitution, others dis- 

 claiming this fact. My experience is that it is not well to breed too close, 

 but that judicious in-breeding is generally successful. We can thereby 

 intensify any desirable qualities the family may possess. Many cases of 

 in-and-in-breeding in fowls and sheep with favorable results are reported. 

 In wild animals, where it is carried on without restraint, we notice the 

 species do not deteriorate, due to the fact that the best and strongest 



