172 BREEDING. 



bitcli is most to be considered for many reasons, one being tbat 

 sbe usually continues the property of the breeder, while the sire 

 can be changed each time she breeds ; but the chief argument in 

 licr favour being founded upon the supposition that she really 

 impresses her formation upon her progeny more than the dog. 

 This, however, is a vexed question in natural history as well as in 

 practical breeding, but from my own experience I am strongly of 

 opinion that it is true. Manj'- horses and dogs may be instanced 

 which have got good stock from all sorts of mares and bitches ; 

 but in opposition to this may be instanced the numbers which 

 have had enormous opportunities of showing their good qualities, 

 but while they have succeeded with one or two they have failed 

 with the larger proportion of their harems. So with mares and 

 bitches, some have produced, every year of their breeding lives, one 

 or more splendid examples of their respective kinds, altogether 

 independent of the horse or dog which may be the parent, so long- 

 as he is of the proper strain likely to hit with hers. It is usually 

 supposed that the sire impresses his external formation upon his 

 stock, while the bitch's nervous temperament is handed down ; and 

 very probably there is some truth in the hypothesis. Yet it is 

 clearer that not onl}^ do the sire and dam affect the progeny, but also 

 the grandsires and granddams on both sides, and still further than 

 this up to the sixth and perhaps even the seventh generations, but 

 more especially on the dam's side, thi'ough the granddam, great- 

 granddam, &c. There is a remarkable fact connected with breeding 

 which should be generally known, which is, that there is a tend- 

 ency in the produce to a separation between the different strains 



