64 PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. 



pla}^, no material difference appears in the offspring, the 

 ancestors being all essentially alike. From this stand 

 point we best perceive in what consists the money value 

 of a good "pedigree." It is in the evidence which it 

 brings that the animal is descended from a line all the 

 individuals of which were alike, and excellent of their 

 kind, and so is almost sure to transmit like excellencies 

 to its progeny in turn ; — not that every animal with a 

 long pedigree full of high-sounding names is necessa- 

 rily of great value as a breeder, for in every race or 

 breed, as we have seen while speaking of the law of 

 variation, there will be here and there some which are 

 less perfect and symmetrical of their kind than others ; 

 and if such be bred from, they may likely enough trans- 

 mit undesirable points ; and if they be mated with 

 others possessing similar failings, they are almost sure 

 to deteriorate very considerably. 



Pedigree is valuable in proportion as it shows an 

 animal to be descended, not only from such as are 

 purely of its own race or breed, but also from such in- 

 dividuals in that breed as were speciallj^ noted for the 

 excellencies for which that particular breed is esteemed. 

 Weeds are none the less worthless because they appear 

 among a crop consisting chiefly of valuable plants, nor 

 should deformed or degenerate plants, although they 

 be true to their kind, ever be employed to produce seed. 



