440 THE HORSE. 



I allow, on the other hand, that where we have so deficient 

 a pedigree of a horse as one which only informs that he was a 

 son, a grandson, or a great-grandson of an imported Cub mare, 

 or PotSos mare, or any other mare — though, unquestionably, I 

 should hesitate very long before putting a mare to a horse so 

 descended, until I had seen the stock of the collateral branches, 

 and his own stock, thoroughly tested — and yet see him and all 

 his brothers and sisters, and his own stock and the collateral 

 stock all distinguishing itself, generation after generation, it is 

 worse than idle to question the pedigree or blood of such an 

 animal. 



I now come to the importation of mares, and here I regret 

 to say that the difficulty is infinitely greater than it has been, 

 even, with the horses. 



Mr. Edgar, not finding, as I understand, his labors suffi- 

 ciently remunerated in the sales of the first volume of his Stud- 

 Book, lett it incomplete, without entering at all upon the mares, 

 whether native or imported ; so that there is scarcely any start- 

 ing point, beyond scattered notices, with the exception of the 

 alphabetical list in Mason's Farrier, of which I have largely and 

 thankfully availed myself. 



Tlie early importations of mares, even the most famous, are 

 far more loosely recorded than the stallions, though for what 

 reason it is impossible to conjecture ; and all that it is in my 

 power to do is to submit as perfect a list as I can command, 

 and to ask pardon for necessary and unavoidable imperfections. 



