BLOOD MARES. 223 



be cut ; but we are strongly disposed to believe that 

 the massacre should be confined to the other sex, 

 and that the exterior conformation of the foal is for 

 the most part derived from the sire, and the interior 

 from the dam. As far as our observation goes, the 

 foal of a roaring dam seldom fails to inherit it, while 

 those got by a roarer very often escape it. A North- 

 ern veterinary surgeon has supported this conforma- 

 tion theory by the ingenious remark that the 

 produce of a horse and a she- ass always brays, while 

 that of a mare and a jackass hinnies; but we cannot 

 speak from ear on this point. It is said by some 

 herdsmen that it is dangerous to put a polled cow 

 for instance to a shorthorn bull, as she never loses 

 the traces of that impregnation after. Stud owners 

 seem to have no such fears before them, as Touch- 

 stone's own sister Pasquinade, the dam of Slander 

 and the Libel, has been twice over successfully put 

 to a cart horse after a season of barrenness by way 

 of a change. Many odd stories are told about the 

 enthusiasm of the tykes on mares and foals, and how 

 a sly publican led an antiquary, who asked if there 

 were any remarkable spots in the neighbourhood, to 

 a paddock behind his inn, and pointing out a large 

 elm-tree, informed him that " a winner of t' Leger 

 were foaled under it/" 



The calculations about blood-stock produce who 

 are destined to fight the battles of Epsom and Don- 

 caster are sadly imperfect, owing to the carelessness 

 of non-racing breeders as to Stud-Book returns. 

 The nearest approximation we can make to them is, 

 that in 1853-56 an average of 1,714 mares were sent 

 to the horse ; of these 53 slipped their foals and 434 

 were barren, while the average of colts was 627 

 against 600 fillies. In 1856 it seems that 1 864 mares 

 threw 1355 live foals, among which the fillies were 

 in a 55 minority. Accidents and diseases effect such 

 a highly successful elimination in the next seven 



