- REPORTS. 55 



cause of blood. The list of imported marc*fe is supposed to bo 

 more numerous than that of sires. It is claimed both for the 

 Morgan and Black Hawk horses, as for the Messenger and 

 other noted horses, that they were made whiit they were by 

 thorough blood. This being universally admitted, why should 

 not thorough blood still be used by all desirous of improving 

 their stock ? It is not proposed to discuss the origin of the 

 thorough-bred, for want of space will not permit. Tliat there 

 is such a distinct and generally recognized type of the horse 

 family, none will deny. This is sufficient for the present pur- 

 pose of the committee. 



Stonchengo, a modern English writer in discussing the prin- 

 ciples of breeding, says, as '' the food of the embryo depends 

 entirely upon the dam, it may be espected that the health of 

 the offspring and its constitutional powers will be more in ac- 

 cordance with her state than with that of the sire ; yet^ since 

 the latter impregnates the germ, it is not surprising that in 

 externals and general character there is retained a facsimile, 

 to a certain extent, of him. . . . The preponderance of 

 one or the other of the progenitors will depend upon the 

 greater or lesser strength of the nervous system in each. No 

 general law is kiiDwn by which tliis can bo measured, nor is 

 anything known of the laws which regulate the temperament, 

 bodily or mental power, color or conformation of the resulting 

 offspring. ... As bad qualities are quite as easily trans- 

 mitted as good ones, if not more so, it is necessary to take care 

 that in selecting a male to improve the stock, he is free from 

 bad pointSj as well as possessed of good ones. It is well kaown 

 from observation, that the good or bad points of the pj-ogenitors 

 of the sire or dam, are almost as likely to reappear in the off- 

 spring as those of the immediate parents in which they are dor- ■ 



