THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 155 



THE OBJECTS OF IN-AND-IN BREEDING. 



Permanent Varieties. — In-and-in breeding should be prac- 

 ticed in view of some specific object ; viz., perpetuating species, 

 capable of constantly and permanently transmitting character- 

 istic peculiarities ; such as may be observed in any particular, 

 permanent, variety ; as an illustration of the same, we offer the 

 French Merino sheep ; Black Hawk horse and Devon bull. 

 These are permanent varieties ; the type of each having been 

 established by a long course of in-and-in breeding. 



We are told, however, that many of the imported French 

 Merinos (so called), have produced offspring scarcely worth 

 the trouble of raising — far inferior to our common native stock. 

 The principal reason is, many sub-races of merinos existing in 

 France, and elsewhere, are the result of cross-breeding ; they 

 are nothing else than mongrels ; destitute of that permanency 

 of type indicative of pure blood. But there are other causes for 

 the deterioration complained of which will be noticed hereafter. 

 By preserving the race pure, through a certain period, we thus 

 obtain the requisite permanency of type, which can then be 

 transmitted indefinitely. 



Let us see, now, if we understand what is meant by a per- 

 manent variety, and inquire if such do really transmit their 

 permanent peculiarities. A permanent variety (Black Hawk 

 breed, or Devon cow, for example), are animals whose pecu- 

 liarities were not coeval with the tribe, but have arisen, or 

 been engrafted on the same, subsequent to the advent of their 

 existence ; and therefore what some may term distinct species, 

 are in reality, nothing more than permanent varieties. The 

 Shetland poney, therefore, is a permanent variety; circum- 

 stances have made him just what he is. He being an inhabitant 

 of a stormy, tempestuous region, comparatively destitute of 

 shelter and artificial food, is left, in many instances, like the 

 cattle of Norway (whose diminutive size is notorious), to seek 

 such food as the country affords ; and owing to their being 

 secluded from other horses, frequent intercourse among them- 



