THE SERE. 137 



all going to show that inbreeding, — even to the degree 

 of incestuous union, — when properly directed by the 

 breeder, has been and may be the means of producing 

 horses of a degree of excellence otherwise unattaina- 

 ble. Observe the emphasized words, because the limi- 

 tation they mark out touching this matter is a very 

 significant one. The rule, as I understand the matter, 

 should be this : When inbreeding closely, allow the 

 union to take place only between ^e?/ec^ animals. Never 

 forget that the same law which enables you not only to 

 keep alive, but to increase, the average excellence of 

 their ancestors and themselves, at the same time oper- 

 ates to the perpetuation, in an exaggerated form, of all 

 vices and faults. Deficiencies as well as excellences, 

 base as truly as noble qualities, will have a double 

 chance of becoming dominant. If one parent alone is 

 vicious, then the offspring may be good-natured ; but, 

 if both parents be vicious, then will the foal be sure to 

 be an ugly brute anyway. This is the law which 

 makes all close inbreeding hazardous, and impossible for 

 the average breeder to follow out. I recommend it, 

 therefore, only in those cases where both of the intended 

 parents are perfect animals. Having such animals, I 

 should breed fearlessly in and in. Nevertheless, even 

 in this case, I should outcross occasionally, and after- 

 ward breed back again to the original stock. By this 

 method, as I conceive, great benefit might be derived, 

 and all peril shunned. 



Such are my views concerning this much-debated and 



