CHAPTER II. 



AMERICAN GRADE OR NATIVE CATTLE. — THE PRIN- 

 CIPLES OF BREEDING. 



We have dwelt thus far mainly upon the prominent 

 breeds of cattle known among us, and especially those 

 adapted to the dairy. But a large proportion — by far 

 the largest proportion, indeed — cannot be included 

 under any of the races alluded to. 



The term breed, properly understood, applies only to 

 animals of the same species, possessing, besides the gen- 

 eral characteristics of that species, other characteristics 

 peculiar to themselves, which they owe to the influence 

 of soil, climate, nourishment, and habits of life to which 

 they are subjected, and which they transmit with cer- 

 tainty to their progeny. The characteristics of certain 

 breeds or families are so well marked, that if an individ- 

 ual supposed to belong to any one of them were to pro- 

 duce an offspring not possessing them, or possessing 

 them only in part, with others not belonging to the 

 breed, it would be just ground for suspecting a want 

 of purity of blood. 



If this definition of the term breed be correct, no 

 grade animals, and no animals not possessing fixed pecu- 

 liarities or characteristics which they share with all 

 other animals of the class of which they are a type, and 

 which they are capable of transmitting with certainty 

 to their descendants, can be recognized by breeders as 

 belonging to any one distinct race, breed, or family. 

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