THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 193 



are bred. The bitches should be carefully chosen, and 

 should not only be such as are most distinguished in 

 the field, but such as are strongest and best propor- 

 tioned, with large ribs and flanks. Never breed from 

 a faulty hound, be his performance ever so good ; nor 

 from the best shaped hound, addicted to any incorri- 

 gible propensities, which are hereditary. The best time 

 for coupling hounds is in January or February, and not 

 later than March ; they will then litter in a good time 

 in spring ; — if bitches litter in winter, it is very difficult 

 to bring up the whelps, the cold being adverse to their 

 thriving and well doing. In selecting dogs to breed 

 from, the ancient and generally received opinion was, 

 that the descendants of an old dog would prove dull 

 and heavy. I know not whether this is borne out by 

 fact, as I have seen most promising stock of seven-year- 

 old stallions ; but it is, perhaps, better that the sires 

 should not be above five years old. It is affirmed by 

 many who profess to have experience in generative 

 economy, that in any number of successive litters bred 

 from one bitch, there will be at least one puppy bearing 

 some resemblance to the sire of her first. If this be 

 true, how careful should we be in the choice of the 

 dogs by which we seek to perpetuate the excellences 

 of our best bitches ; and there is no room to doubt the 

 credibility of sucli theory, when we know that durnb- 

 madness, and many other evils, will descend through 

 generations. The strongest proof, however, which I 

 can call to mind; in support of the opinion that the 



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