40 Tlii-. S5TALL10N AND BROOD MARE. 



There is, as elsewhere intimated, if we consult Nature, 

 always acting for the best, — reason to conclude it wasi 

 intended, with domestic animals, that the male should 

 exert the greater influence over the form and qualities 

 of the progeny. Were it not so, how slow^ and inef- 

 fectual would be all attempts at amelioration, for it is 

 through one male that blood and form and qualities are 

 imparted to great numbers — while, with the female, but 

 a solitary effect or result can be accomplished during a 

 whole period of gestation. In herds of wild Horses, 

 Nature allows troops of mares to be engrossed by the 

 stallion of most courage and strength, thus guarding 

 against the inevitable degeneracy of promiscuous inter- 

 course — and he again, after a season or two, is supplanted 

 by some rebellious young rival, stronger if not braver 

 than he, before time enough has elapsed to stamp the 

 whole race by that degeneracy which follows inv^est jous 

 intercourse long continued. Here again we are invited 

 to follow, and, as art may always do, improve upon, if 

 we do follow, the laws of Nature. But, alas, of breeders 

 of animals it may be said, " they have sought out many 

 inventions" that violate her laws, and the consequence 

 is, a miserable race of ill-formed, decrepit garrans^ fit 

 neither for harness nor saddle, for the road or the chase, 

 for peace nor for war, nor toi anytliin^ but — dog^s meat. 



