HORSE BREEDING. 1307 



lowed hei- husband in his campaigns, and was subjected to all the 

 dangers of a military life, while, on the other hand, the murder of 

 David Rizzio in the presence of Queen Mary was the death-blow to the 

 personal courage of James I., and occasioned that strong dislike of 

 edged weapons for which that monarch was said to be remarkable. 

 Various instances can be cited of deformities, monstrosities and birth- 

 marks in the human family traceable to frights, etc., received by the 

 mother during pregnancy. The same law acts, but not to so marked an 

 extent, in the lower animals. I call to mind one well-marked case of 

 the effect of a fright received by a mare during the act of copulation. 

 A farmer bred a half-bred Clydesdale mare to a pure-bred Clydesdale 

 stallion. Both sire and dam were good individuals, with full manes and 

 tails. This farmer owned a dog with a very short tail, and he had the 

 habit of interfering with any of the stock that were fighting. The stall- 

 ion came to the farm to serve the mare, and during the act of copula- 

 tion the dog, evidently thinking his services as a peace-maker were in 

 demand, caught the stallion by the tail and growled and swung from 

 side to side. The groom ran back and gave the dog a kick, and he 

 ran towards the barn, passing directly in front of the mare. This mare 

 produced to this cover, and the foal, while perfect in form, had only a 

 few hairs and no dock where the tail should be. This animal is still 

 owned by the breeder. I saw her a few months ago, and she is a fair 

 representative of her class, being well developed in all points except the 

 above. I cannot explain this phenomena in any way except that the 

 mare was startled by the sudden appearance of the tailless dog, and it 

 caused such a nervous impression as to cause the development of a foetus 

 with the same peculiarity. 



XII. Sex at Will. 



Various theories have been advanced to produce sex at will, but, as far 

 as I can learn, all have failed in actual practice. 



If we recognize the foregoing laws as governing factors in the repro- 

 duction of horses, it teaches us that too great care cannot be exercised 

 in the selection of animals for breeding purposes, and also that great 

 care of the dam during pregnancy is demanded. As to the hygiene of 

 pregnant mares, it does not differ in many respects from that of other 

 animals. The mare should be kept in moderate condition and be given 

 regular exercise during pregnancy, or else regularly used at ordinary 

 work. She should not be subjected to excessive muscular exertion, and 

 should not be worked much under saddle, and, if ridden at all, spurs 

 should not be used ; the excessive muscular contraction often caused by 

 the application of the spur is liable to cause abortion. If we are breed- 



