rN-AND-IN-BREEDING. 265 



exactly coincides with these natural laws. " Once in and once 

 out," is the rule for breeding given by Mr. Smith in his work 

 on the breeding for the turf ; but twice in will be found to be 

 more in accordance with the practice of our most successful 

 breeders. 



The influence of the first impregnation seems to extend to 

 the subsequent ones ; this has been proved bj several experi- 

 ments, and is especially marked in the equine genus. In the 

 series of examples preserved in the Museum of the College of 

 Surgeons, the markings of the male quagga, when united with 

 the ordinary mare, are continued clearly for three generations 

 beyond the one in which the quagga was the actual sire ; and 

 they are so clear as to leave the question settled without a 

 doubt. 



When some of the elements, of which an individual sire is 

 composed are in accordance with others making up those of the 

 dam, they coalesce in such a kindred way as to make what is 

 called "a hit." On tlie other hand, when they are too incon- 

 gruous, an animal is the result wholly unfitted tor the task he is 

 intended to nerform. 



IN-AjSTD-IX-BKEEDING. 



By a careful examination of the pedigrees of our most re- 

 markable horses, of which I have inserted a series of tables in 

 the course of my first volume, it will be seen that in all cases 

 there is some in-breeding ; and in the greater part of the most 

 successful a very considerable infusion of it. It is difficult to 

 say what is not to be considered as such, or when to make it 

 commence, for in all cases there is more or less relationship be- 

 tween the sire and dam of every thoroughbred horse ; at least, 

 I cannot find a single exception — and again, for instance, exam- 

 ining tlie pedigree of Harkaway, which is the result of one of 

 the most direct crosses in the Stud-book, we find that his sire 

 and dam are both descended from Eclipse and Herod through 

 three or four strains on each side, as will be seen on referring 

 to the right-hand column. The same will apply to Alarm, who 

 also is the result of as direct a cross as is often seen ; and, in 

 fact, whatever pedigree is analyzed, the result will be that the 

 bulk of it in the fifth or sixth remove is made up of Eclipse, 



