OF PUPPIES. 



101 



adopted and established, its permanency must depend on the 

 care bestowed not only in selactin^ proper individuals to 

 propagate from, but also in the adoption of such other cir- 

 cumstances as tend to preserve the animals themselves in 

 that state the nearest approaching- to what has been establish- 

 ed as the standard. These circumstances include, choice of 

 situation, proper food, due exercise, with judicious restraint 

 and discipline. The aids we should lend to perpetuate a di- 

 minutive race would be, close confinement, artificial warmth*, 

 and sparing food. Were our attempts directed to the ex- 

 ternal covering, artificial warmth would render it thin and 

 fine ; while, on the contrary, exposure would thicken and 

 probably lengthen it. If great size exists, and we wish to 

 continue or increase it, we should allow but one or two 

 young to remain in a litter ; we should not only feed the 

 mother liberally, but it would be proper early to accustom 

 the young to eat of animal food also : adding to all these the 

 free access of air, ample room, and opportunity for full 



exercise. 



But, above all, the permanency of a breed must depend on 

 the judicious selection of individuals as parents, who, having 

 the specified and definite form in the greatest degree, are 

 enabled in their progeny to perpetuate the same. This care, 

 when long continued, of confining to particular races or 

 breeds the means of continuing their species, constitutes what 

 is termed purity of blood. Immense importance is attached 

 to this purity of blood, or lineal descent, amongst the breed- 

 ers of almost every kind of domestic animalt. The scientific 



* The French are said to give their diminutive breeds spirituous li- 

 quors when they are youug, to stop their growth : if it has this effect, it 

 is because artificial warmth produces premature developement of the 

 frame, and thus promotes an early puberty. 



t The care taken by the Arabs in preserving the breeds of their 

 horses is most remarkable. None but stallions of the finest form and 

 purest Mood are allowed access to their mares, which is never done but 

 in the presence of a professional witness or public officer, who attests 

 the fact, records the names, and signs the pedigree of each. The 



