INFLUENCE OF SEX. 



121 



livered in a very quaint way, he concludes his descrip- 

 tion with the mention of "twisted horns," — " not because 

 this last is more useful, (for a ram without horns is 

 better,) but because horns that are twisted and bended 

 inwards are not at all so hurtful as those that are set up- 

 right and expanded. Nevertheless, in some countries 

 where the climate is wet and windy, we would wish for 

 he-goats and rams even with the very largest horns ; 

 because, when they are high and extended, they defend 

 the greatest part of the head from the storm." 



It is thus that among some of his most beautiful re- 

 marks, we have generally a something occurring which 

 upsets the gravity of the whole by its childish absurdity. 



(93.) Influence of Sex.— In early ages, the greater 

 share of attention appears to have been bestowed on 

 male domesticated animals, on account of the more 

 numerous offspring of which they would become the 

 parents ; and from this, as the Rev. Henry Berry, of 

 Acton Beauchamp, Worcestershire, supposes, (in a 

 valuable essay on the breeding of live stock, published 

 in the British Farmer's Magazine,) has originated the 

 prevalent idea, that the male has a more decided in- 

 fluence, than the female, on the form of the progeny. 

 *' The ideas entertained respecting the useful qualities 

 of an animal would (in former times) be very similar, 

 and lead to the adoption of a general standard of excel- 

 lence, towards which it would be required that each 

 male should approximate ; and thus there would exist, 

 among what may be termed fashionable sires, a corres- 

 ponding form and character, different from, and superior 

 to, those of the general stock of the country. This 

 form and character would, in most instances, have been 



