IN THE BREEDING CLASSES 45 



each other, the male acquiring characteristics that are dis- 

 tinctly masculine, while the female acquires others peculiarly 

 feminine in that they are strikingly different from those of 

 the male. The reproductive cells of each seem through their 

 characteristics to influence the peculiarities of the sexes in a 

 remarkable manner. 



76. Differences in Disposition. In all classes of farm live 

 stock there are very noticeable differences in disposition, that 

 may be credited to the influence of the sex. The active dis- 

 position of the male animal oftentimes is forced to spend 

 itself in the development of viciousness and it cannot be dis- 

 puted that such has been true of many of the best breeding 

 sires, especially- among those of the lighter breeds of horses and 

 the dairy breeds of cattle. The difference in the nature of the 

 sexes is even characteristic of the reproductive cells — the 

 sperm or male cell being active and smaller, while the ovum 

 or female cell is larger and more stable. From this condi- 

 tion through the various stages of life the differences in the 

 disposition of the sexes is easily traceable. The lamb of the 

 male sex becomes combative and more active in disposition 

 as he develops while the ewe lamb loses the early activity 

 that was common iD all and develops into the gentler ewe; 

 the calf of the male has a fierceness of mien that seeks active 

 expression in imaginary combats, becoming easily excited to 

 anger, when it is noticeable that the suppliant bawl has 

 become a fierce roar; while the cow has lost the playful 

 energy that she had as a calf and now has none to spare for 

 anything but her quiet vocation of making milk; the colts 

 tend to develop the same restless activities while the fillies 

 assume the quieter quality of mind common to maternity, and 

 in a like manner the pigs separate in their dispositions as the 

 sex characteristics become pronounced. Thus in all live stock 

 the changes of disposition are traceable to sexual develop- 

 ment and it is because of the close connection between the 

 two features that many breeders consider the characteristic 



