BREEDING. 



rieties which are much more useful 

 or profitable than the wild breeds ; 

 and in the selection of" the best indi- 

 viduals to propagate a useful race, 

 and in the rearing of the young, con- 

 sist the art of the breeder. 



Without entering into particulars, 

 which vary with every species of 

 animal, and with the different varie- 

 ties of the same species, we shall lay 

 down certain principles which expe- 

 rience has proved to be correct, and 

 which, being attended to, will greatly 

 promote the improvement of all the 

 different animals usually bred for the 

 use of man, whether for his suste- 

 nance or for his pleasure. The first 

 thing which is to be kept in view is the 

 chief purpose for which the animal is 

 reared, whether for labour, strength, 

 or for speed ; whether merely for a 

 supply of animal food, or to produce 

 the raw materials of manufacture. In 

 each of these cases distinct qualities 

 are required, and it is seldom that 

 two of these objects can be combined 

 in the greatest perfection. 



Having then determined the pur- 

 pose for which any species of domes- 

 tic animal is designed, every quality 

 must be attended to which furthers 

 this view ; and, except under very 

 peculiar circumstances, the animals 

 intended to keep up the stock by their 

 produce must be chosen with those 

 quaUties in the greatest perfection 

 which are essential to the end. In all 

 animals a perfect conformation of the 

 bodily frame is essential to the due per- 

 formance of the vital functions. The 

 skeleton of the animal should there- 

 fore be as perfect as possible. The 

 capacity of the chest, and the healthy 

 nature of the lungs, are points which 

 must never be overlooked, whatever 

 may be the purpose for which the 

 animal is bred ; for although a defect 

 may be in some measure counteract- 

 ed by a judicious choice of the indi- 

 vidual coupled with the defective an- 

 imal, it is only where there is no al- 

 ternative or choice that any defect in 

 the bodily frame of an animal kept 

 for breeding should be overlooked. 

 In spite of every care, the defect will 

 appear in the offspring; sometimes 

 ins 



not till after several generations. If 

 it were possible to find individuals 

 without fault or defect, no price would 

 be too great for them ; and for those 

 that have been carefully selected for 

 several generations, it is real econo- 

 my to give a very Hberal price. In 

 horses bred for racing or for the 

 chase experience has fully proved the 

 truth of this rule ; and no one who 

 pretends to breed race-horses would 

 breed from a mare which had a nat- 

 ural defect, or a horse whose whole 

 pedigree was not free from fault. For 

 mere swiftness, the shape of the ani- 

 mal, whether horse or greyhound, 

 must combine strength with great 

 activity. The chest must be deep, 

 the lungs free, and the digestive, or- 

 gans sound but small, to add as little 

 weight to the body as is consistent 

 with the healthy functions of nature. 

 The legs should be long and slender, 

 and the bones compact and strong ; 

 but the principal thing to be attended 

 to is the courage, and no quality is 

 so hereditary. A horse or hound of 

 a good breed, if in health, will die of 

 exertion sooner than give up the 

 chase. Any defect in courage in an 

 animal intended for great occasional 

 exertion renders him unfit to be se- 

 lected to continue an improved breed ; 

 and, whatever may be his pedigree, 

 he has degenerated. 



With respect to animals whose 

 strength and endurance are their 

 most desirable qualities, a greater 

 compactness of form is required, a 

 greater capacity of the digestive or- 

 gans, and, according to the climate 

 to which they may be exposed, a 

 more suitable covering. Whether it 

 be to ward off cold or great heat, a 

 thick covering of hair is equally ser- 

 viceable in both cases. Hardiness 

 of constitution is hereditary, like oth- 

 er qualities ; and the manner in which 

 the young are reared tends greatly to 

 confirm or diminish this. An animal 

 of which the breed originally came 

 from a warm climate, like a tender 

 exotic plant, wants artificial warmth 

 for the healthy growth of its limbs ; 

 while the indigenous and more hardy 

 breeds may be left exposed to the 



