NOTED MASTIFFS, 211 



The additional increase is not at all regular .every genera- 

 tion, but jumps as it were by fits and starts, and at times with 

 marvellous rapidity. 



Again in condemning a defective point in an animal, the 

 breeder should consider, and try to ascertain if possible, 

 whether or not it is, or is likely to be an hereditary fault. 



Many good judges are tainted with the vice of cynicism, and 

 argue concerning a weak point as though it were a whole, 

 the result being that although their judgment may be correct 

 enough, according to the standard for exhibition, they 

 nevertheless mislead breeders, and seldom make any mark 

 themselves as producers of high-class specimens. 



The general or hereditary characteristics of the prominent 

 strains of any race of animals must be of service to the 

 breeder of the variety ; but to coacervate them, it requires 

 lengthened experience, and even then it should be borne in 

 mind that the faults and perfections fluctuate, and are greatly 

 and constantly modified by the various strains they are fused 

 with. 



The leading strains between 20 and 25 years ago were Bill 

 George's Tiger, Cautley's Quaker, Lukey's Governor, and 

 Weller's Wallace ; the first was succeeded by his sons 

 (Bamfords afterwards my) Wolf, (Lord Kingsdovvns afterwards 

 my) Rums, Bamford's Sampson, and a lot of daughters of 

 unexceptional merit. 



Bill George's Tiger himself was crooked in his legs and 

 slack in loin, both defects probably owing to bad rearing, as 

 his immediate progenitors were very good in both respects, 

 (although some of Mr. Lukey's old strain were, Mr. Thompson 

 informed me, slack in loin, and very weak andcr ooked in 



