CONTROLLING THE SEX OP OFFSPRING. 107 



cial effect on the enhanced value of the progeny. Examples 

 might be cited among thoroughbreds and trotters, Durhams, 

 Jerseys, Ayrshires and Devons, but they are specially remark- 

 able among sheep. The best Cotswold rams raised by Wells, 

 Beale Browne and others, on their native hills, and the finest 

 Leicesters will readily let at auction for the season for £20 to 

 .£40 per head. And the successful bidder finds his profit in 

 paying these high prices rather than in perpetuating inferior 

 qualities in his flock. He reaps his reward, as any one who will 

 examine his flock and his yearly balance sheet will not fail to 

 sec. 



REGULATING THE SEXES OF OFFSPRING. 



Could such breeders of males succeed in obtaining male and 

 female stock at will, their specialty might be made more satis- 

 factory and remunerative. It is often equally desirable to se- 

 cure a majority of females in the offspring. No wonder then 

 tliat men's minds have been in all ages exercised with tliis 

 question of regulating the sexes. Many rules have been laid 

 down for this purpose, but the great majority are self-evidently 

 absurd, while the remainder are but of very questionable value. 

 I will mention a few of the most reasonable of these hypotheses : 



1. The desires and ideas of the parents at the time of con- 

 ception determine the sex. 



2. The nature of the food of the parents, and particularly 

 of the mother during pregnancy. 



3. The manner in which the spermatic artery is given off 

 from the aorta. 



4. The male germ is supplied by the right testicle or ovary, 

 and the female from the left. 



5. The full age and greater strength and vigor in one parent, 

 ■will secure its sex in the majority of the offspring, 



G. The ovum impregnated just after the rupture of its ova- 

 rian vesicle will be a female, while that impregnated later in the 

 lower part of the Fallopian tube will be a male. 



7. The persistent selection of females, for breeding purposes, 

 which yield one sex mainly, will finally obtain a race producing 

 mainly males or mainly females. 



Concerning the influence of the mother's wishes, 'we have 

 some of us known instances of a strong conviction and desire 



