SECRETARY'S REPORT. 57 



and that it probably only requires the stimulus of future con- 

 nections with the male, to bring it into existence. He had 

 experimented with a Newfoundland bitch, by coupling her with 

 a water-dog, and the progeny were partly water-dog, partly 

 Newfoundland, and the remainder a mixture of both. Future 

 connections of the same bitch with a greyhound, produced a 

 similar litter, with hardly a trace of the greyhound. He had 

 bred rabbits with the laws established by this experiment, and 

 had at last so impregnated a white rabbit with the grey rabbit, 

 that connection of this white rabbit with a black male invariably 

 produced grey. A fact stated by Mr Chapin, of Milford, that a 

 hen turkey would lay two or three successive litters of eggs, 

 having been impregnated only for the first litter, was new to 

 Prof. Agassiz, and confirmed his views. It was undoubtedly 

 with a knowledge of these laws of reproduction, perhaps pro- 

 founder than that which we possess, that the Jewish code declared 

 that if a widow having children marry again, the children of her 

 second husband shall be heirs of the first. 



These laws, established by these experiments, should govern 

 us in our breeding of animals, and should make us careful in a 

 selection of males for the first impregnation of females, as upon 

 this depends the future value of the female in producing the 

 type which the breeder may design. 



Certain more subtle influences are exerted by the two sexes, 

 one upon another, by mere social intercourse. A high-toned 

 and healthy association of men and women in society, is of vast 

 advantage to both in a physical point of view. The absence of 

 this virtuous familiarity in this country, is the cause of great 

 detriment, to women especially. So much is this the case, that 

 certain diseases known to women in this country, are unknown 

 in Europe, where, in the market-place, and in the field, in 

 school, in church, in the street, at home, that ease and familiarity 

 of intercourse, which expel everything morbid and unhealthy 

 are the common mode of life. He urged, on this ground, the 

 commingling of the two sexes in our schools and public places, 

 as beneficial to both, physically, as well as morally and mentally. 



The lecture threw much light on the subject of breeding and 

 rearing cattle, and clears up many points which have always 

 been troublesome to the breeder. 



8* 



