SECRETARY'S REPORT. 117 



selected, if for tlie improvement of tlic wool solely, — of the Merino 

 breed ; if for enlargement and proportion of the carcass, — of 

 the Downs or the Cotswolds ; the size of the parents should not 

 be too much disproportioned at first, " Nature abhors s\idden 

 extremes," and does every thing in the most gradual manner, 

 though in breeding for the shambles it is desirable to use a 

 larger ram than otherwise, as it is now generally admitted that 

 the progeny is more influenced in its external form and size by 

 the male, and in its constitution by the female. This is strik- 

 ingly illustrated by a breed of sheep well known in this Com- 

 monwealth fifty years ago, and still existing, called the " Otter 

 breed," from the peculiarity of their legs; they originated on 

 one of the islands in the eastern part of the State ; a ewe of the 

 " native breed " belonging to a man, dropped twin lambs, one 

 of them a ram, which was allowed to grow and serve ewes ; his 

 offspring inherited the same peculiarity to such an extent as to 

 create the breed thus described by Mr. Livingston, in 1811 : 

 " These sheep are long bodied rather than large, and weigh 

 about fifteen pounds per quarter ; their wool is of a medium 

 fineness, and a medium length ; but that which particularly 

 characterizes these sheep is the length of their bodies and the 

 shortness of their legs, which are also turned out in such a 

 manner as to appear rickety. Tiiey cannot run or jump, and 

 they even walk with some difficulty. They appear as if their 

 legs had been broken and set by some awkward surgeon." 

 These sheep owed entirely their peculiarity to this ram. 



Mr. Spooner says : " The back, loins, hind-quarters, general 

 shape, skin and size, follow one parent, and the fore-quarters, 

 head, vital and nervous system the other, and we may go so far 

 as to add that the former, in the great majority of cases, go 

 with the male parent, and the latter with the female." While 

 the male offspring generally takes more strongly of the charac- 

 teristics of the father, and the female of the mother, yet the 

 more powerful and vigorous parent, doubtless impresses on the 

 progeny an undue influence of its character. While a large 

 ram is used in breeding for the butcher, it is of importance tliat 

 the ewe should be well spread, that the pelvis should be wide 

 and capacious so that she may have no trouble in lambing. It 

 is not to be imagined that when by dint of crossing we have 

 attained tiie variety wanted, it will remain in the condition to 

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