OUT-CROSSING. 273 



stone and Defence. It has, however, partially succeeded when 

 in-bred to the Waxy and Buzzard blood, as in Chatham and 

 Fugleman, who both reunite these three strains. The same ap- 

 plies to Coronation, who unites the Whalebone blood in Sir 

 Hercules with that of Kubens in Eubj ; but as Waxy and Buz- 

 zard, the respective ancestors of all these horses, were both 

 grandsons of Herod, and great-grandsons of Snap, it only 

 strengthens the argument in favor of in-breeding. Tliis con- 

 clusion is in accordance with the 14th and 15th axioms which 

 embody the state of our present knowledge of the theory of 

 generation ; and if they are examined, they will be seen to 

 bear upon the present subject, so as to lead one to advise the 

 carrying out of the practice of in-and-in-breeding to the same 

 extent as has been found so successful in the instances which I 

 have given. Purity of blood is intimately connected with the 

 practice, because the nearer it is to one standard the more un- 

 mixed it is, and by consequence the more fully it is represented 

 in tlie produce. Hence, it is doubly needful to take care that 

 this pure blood is of a good«kind ; because, if bad, it will per- 

 petuate its bad qualities just as closely as it would the good, or 

 perhaps still more so. 



OUT-CEOSSESTG. 



By crossing the blood, we understand the selection of a sire 

 composed of wholly different blood from that of the dam, or as 

 different as can be obtained of such quality as is suitable, to the 

 particular purpose in view. Thus, in breeding race-horses it is 

 found that continuing in the same strain beyond two stages de- 

 rateriorates the constitutional health, diminishes the bone, and 

 lowers the height ; hence, it is important to avoid this evil, and 

 another strain must be selected which shall lead to the same re- 

 sults as were previously in existence, without the above deterio- 

 ration ; and this is called out-crossing, or more commonly, cross- 

 ing. The great difficulty is to obtain this object without de- 

 stroying that harmony of proportions, and due subordination of 

 one part to another which is necessary for the race-horse, and 

 without which he seldom attains high speed. Almost every in- 

 dividual breed has peculiar characteristics, and so long as the 

 sire and dam are both in possession of them they will continue 

 Vol. II.— 18 



