264 TUE HCKSE. 



tlie effect exerted upon the nervous system of the motlier by 

 him. Hence, the preponderance of one or other of the parents 

 will, in great measure, depend upon the greater or less strength 

 of nervous system in each. JSTo general law is known by which 

 this can be measured, nor is any thing known of the laws which 

 regulate the temperament, bodily or mental power, color or con- 

 formation of the resulting offspring. 



Acquired qualities are transmitted, whether they belong to 

 the sire or dam, and also both bodily and mental. As bad 

 qualities are quite as easily transmitted as good ones, if not 

 more so, it is necessary to take care that in selecting a male to 

 improve the stock he be free from bad points, as well as fur- 

 nished with good ones. It is known by experience that the good 

 or bad points of the progenitors of the sire or dam are almost 

 as likely to appear again in the offspring, as those of the imme- 

 diate parents in whom they are dormant. Hence, in breeding 

 the rule is, that like produces like, or the likeness of some 

 ancestor. 



The purer or less mixed the breed, the more likely it is to 

 be transmitted unaltered to the offspring. Hence, whichever 

 parent is of the purest blood will be generally more represented 

 in the offspring ; but as the male is usually more carefully se- 

 lected, and of jDurer blood than the female, it generally follows 

 that he exerts more influence than she does ; the reverse being 

 the case when she is of more unmixed blood than the sire. 



Breeding " in-and-in " is injurious to mankind, and has al- 

 ways been forbidden by the Divine law, as well as by most hu- 

 man lawgivers. On the other hand, it prevails extensively in 

 a state of nature with all gregarious animals, among whom the 

 strongest male retains his daughters and granddaughters until 

 deprived of his harem by younger and stronger rivals. Hence, 

 in those of our domestic animals which are naturally grega- 

 rious, it is reasonable to conclude that breeeding " in-and-in " 

 is not j)rejudicial, because it is in conformity with their natural 

 instincts, if not carried farther by art, than nature teaches by 

 her example. Now, in nature %ve find about two consecutive 

 crosses of the same blood is the usual extent to which it is car- 

 ried, as the life of the animal is the limit ; and it is a remark- 

 able fact that in practice a conclusion has been arrived at, which 



