124 PRINCIPLES OF BPvEEDING. 



A very brief resume of the preceding remarks may 

 be expressed as follows : 



The Law of Similarity teaches us to select animals 

 for breeding which possess the desired forms and qual- 

 ities in the greatest perfection and best combination. 



Regard should be had not only to the more obvious 

 characteristics, but also to such hereditary traits and 

 tendencies as may be hidden from cursory observation 

 and demand careful and thorough investigation. 



From the hereditary nature of all characteristics, 

 whether good or bad, we learn the importance of hav- 

 ing all desirable qualities and properties thoroughly 

 inbred ; or, in other words, so fijmly fixed in each gen- 

 eration, that the next is warrantably certain to present 

 nothing worse, — that no ill results follow from breeding 

 back towards some inferior ancestor, — that all undesir- 

 able traits or points be, so far as possible, bred out. 



So important is this consideration, that in practice, it 

 is decidedly preferable to employ a male of ordinary 

 external appearance, provided his ancestry be all which 

 is desired, rather than a grade or cross-bred animal, 

 although the latter be greatly his superior in personal 

 beauty. 



A knowledge of the Law of Divergence teaches us 

 to avoid, for breeding purposes, such animals as exhibit 

 variations unfavorable to the purpose in view ; and to 

 endeavor to perpetuate every real improvement gained ; 



