30 THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



fresh sire, but which theory is too 

 intricate for discussion here, I am never- 

 theless pretty certain that colour of skin 

 and feather comes more from the sire, 

 whilst make and shape is handed down 

 from the dam. For instance, if you 

 mate a Berkshire boar with a pure white 

 sow you will get more black spots on 

 the litter of young than by mating a 

 white boar with a Berkshire sow. In 

 choosing a stallion for your mare, besides 

 making certain that he counteracts in 

 his formation any deficiency in your 

 mare, take care the strain of blood, as 

 proved by results in producing winners, 

 nicks in properly, and also, if possible 

 (and especially if breeding for sale), that 

 the stallion has sired some winners 

 already, or is in a large stud where he 

 will have ample facilities given him to 

 make a name for himself, as it will give 



