50 THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. 



that these partiahties seem to be confined to a part of the progeny 

 only, or is divided between the parents. This is sometimes ob- 

 served when a breed is made between a pointer and setter, in which 

 case it has not unfrequently happened that a part of the litter has 

 produced nearly thorough-bred pointers, while the remainder have 

 proved well-bred setters. 



Breeding hack^ as it is popularly called among sportsmen, is 

 not one of the least curious, nor one of the least important among 

 the phenomena which attend the reproductive system. If it were 

 not for the irregularities lately pointed out, which occasionally 

 occur by mental influence, we might be led to conclude that a 

 family character' was originally imprinted on the generative 

 organs, or that the ova or germs of the future race were formed 

 after one common hereditary mould ; for it is often observed, not 

 only among dogs, but among other domestic animals, and even in 

 man also, that their progeny bear a greater resemblance to the 

 grandam or grandfather than to their immediate parents. It 

 is evident that this is more likely to happen where a common 

 character has been preserved during successive generations, or, 

 in turf language, where the hlood has been kept jowr*?; which is 



males than females; while others are the parents of more females than males. 

 In the Fhil. Trans. 1787, p. 344, mention is made of a gentleman who was 

 the youngest of forty sons, all produced in succession from three different 

 wives, by one father, in Ireland. But it is at the same time equally notorious, 

 that some bitches, let them breed by what dog they will, yet still have a plu- 

 rality of one sex. The same occurs in a much greater degree among other 

 domestic animals. Mr. Knight remarks on the equal aptitude in the female 

 in determining the sex: " In several species of domesticated animals (I believe 

 "in all), particular females are found to produce a majority of their offspring 

 " of the same sex ; and I have proved repeatedly, that, by dividing a herd of 

 " thirty cows into three equal parts, I could calculate with confidence upon a 

 ** large majority of females from one part, of males from another, and upon 

 " nearly an equal number of males and females from the remainder. I fre- 

 " quently endeavoured to change the habits by changing the male, but without 

 "success." — Pliil. Trans. 1809, p. 397. In King's Langley church are the 

 effigies of seven successive daughters born to a man by his first wife, and of 

 seven sons born to him bv a second wife, in succession. 



