Like Begets Like, 29 



These blemishes may not appear in the immediate pro- 

 geny, but will in the next or more distant generation. 

 From this arises the necessity of some knowledge of 

 both the sire and the dam. The most careless breeders 

 have observed qualities appearing in their stock that 

 belonged to neither sire nor dam, but which belonged 

 to their ancestry further back ; such as a vicious 

 temper, some peculiar mark, white face or feet. Not 

 only are diseases inherited by the offspring, but the 

 - form, spirit, constitution and temper. *This maxim, 

 however, that " like begets like," is only true in part, as 

 there is a constant tendency to change, arising from 

 difference in food. Change of climate, or other physi- 

 cal conditions to which they might be exposed, might 

 naturally be expected to produce considerable cor- 

 responding modifications in the form, size, color, and 

 coating of animals ; as it is well known that cattle 

 generally become very large and fat when reared for 

 many generations on moist rich soils, where good 

 pasturage abounds, but are distinguished by the short- 

 ness of their legs ; while on drier situations, where the 

 herbage is sparse, their whole bulk is less, and their 

 limbs more muscular and strong. A country of heaths, 

 or of other innutritious plants, will not produce a horse 

 so large nor so strong as one of plentiful herbage, as is 

 manifested between those reared on bleak mountains 

 and fertile plains, high latitudes and more temperate 

 climes, sandy deserts and watered vales. A change of 

 situation in the one case, after a succession of gen- 



*D. J. Bowne, ia Patent Office Official Report, 1864. 



