432 APPENDIX 



Raroy's Bell founder. All of the tribe that came under my observa- 

 tion were good strong horses, but slow. Some people hold to tho 

 extraordinary notion that the study of pedigrees, and the pedi- 

 grees themselves, are of no account. This proceeds from igno- 

 rance, like that of the savages who clamor for " white i^ioncy," aa 

 of more value than gold, and would not give a cocoanut for a 

 Bank of England note for a thousand pounds. Pedigrees estab- 

 lished by research such as that of Mr. Wallace, and accurately as- 

 certained, are of very great account to the breeders and owners 

 of horses. Pedigrees which are reposed upon vague guess, or 

 built upon downright invention, are certainly of no account for 

 anything but mischief, and such is the absurd pretence that the 

 dam of imported Bellfounder was got by the thoroughbred horse 

 Haphazard. But to say that pedigrees morally certain are of no 

 account is nonsense. We might as well say that money is of no 

 account because there are counterfeit coin and forged notes in cir- 

 culation. Good pedigree, however, is only one thing,t hough essen- 

 tially the first, for the consideration of the breeder. Who expects 

 to get racehorses from Shetland ponies, or white Muscovies from 

 wild ducks? An animal may have a good pedigree but be ill- 

 maile, infirm in constitution, or afflicted by some hidden ailment. 

 And it may be that the man who possesses a mare of rare pedigree 

 and corresponding excellence in other respects, is unable to take 

 advantage of them by selecting the proper stallion, and hitting 

 the right cross. No doubt when the Abdallah mare was bred to 

 Edsall's Ilambletonian the right cross was made. The result has 

 proved it ; but Mr. Decker had not the least suspicion of the fact, 

 for he sold the produce when seven years old for $350. 



The old Abdallah mare bred five other foals for Mr. Decker, 

 but she was only mated with Edsall's ilambletonian once. She 

 'sras herself noted for gameness and bott v.n, and it is said t]:at 

 she could trot in 2in. 40s. when in her prime. Of all her pro- 

 duce Goldsmith Maid was the smallest. She is to this Jay but 

 li**-le more than fifteen hands high, but is long and low, wiHi tlio 



