RELATIVE INFLUENCE OF THE PARENTS. 71 



ness, and freedom from diseases of the viscera, and, in 

 short, all internal qualities that may be desired, then 

 the female may be most relied on." 



One of the most valuable of these papers was written 

 by the Kev. Henry Berry of Worcestershire, in which, 

 after stating that the question proposed is one full of 

 difficulty and that the discovery of an independent qual- 

 ity such as that alluded to, in either sex, would be at- 

 tended with beneficial results, he proceeds to show, 

 that it is not to sex, but to high blood, or in other 

 words, to animals long and successfully selected, and 

 bred with a view to particular qualifications, whether 

 in the male or female parent, that the quality is to be 

 ascribed, which the Highland Society has been desir- 

 ous to assign correctly. 



The origin of the prevalent opinion which assigns 

 this power principally to the male, he explains by giv- 

 ing the probable history of the first efforts in improving 

 stock. The greatest attention would naturally be paid 

 to the male, both on account of his more extended ser- 

 vices, and the more numerous produce of which he 

 could become the parent ; in consequence of which sires 

 would be well-bred before dams. '' The ideas enter- 

 tained respecting the useful qualities of an animal 

 would be very similar and lead to the adoption of a 



general standard of excellence, towards which it would 

 7* 



