SELECTION OF SIRE. 205 



justifiable ; indeed, oftentimes it is the correct way to fix 

 desirable qualities. For instance, both sire and dam may 

 wisely be bred to their offspring, and even brother to 

 sister, if by this means there is a promise that the higher 

 qualities of each will be passed on and better development 

 secured. 



To justify in-breeding, however, both parties to the 

 union must be of good quality and not share the same 

 defects, and there must exist ample reason for expecting 

 that the faults of one will be corrected or greatly lessened 

 by the perfections of the other. 



To breed as deeply as stated more than once in the 

 same family without a break is doubtless at times justifi- 

 able ; but still it is hazardous, and especially so unless the 

 individuals are of rare good quality and remarkably healthy 

 and vigorous. 



The principal objections to in-breeding are, that it 

 greatly weakens the nervous system, — producing exces- 

 sive excitability, — intensifies constitutional defects, leads 

 to decrease in size, creates a predisposition to disease and 

 impairs the reproductive functions. 



In a word, by the means of in-breeding desirable qualities 

 may be made more pronounced, retained and perpetuated, 

 but to be safe it must be very intelligently applied, with 

 well-selected individuals only, and it must not go far in 

 a family. 



The conclusions to be drawn from the foregoing are, that 

 the beginner should first visit shows and other places 

 that furnish material, and there critically study the best 

 specimens of his chosen variety of dogs. If closely 

 observing he will in time become familiar with what are 

 generally accepted as good qualities and be able to detect 

 the faults. An ideal model will then be possible, and this 

 developed and a knowledge of the common laws of inherit- 



