118 THE DOMESTIC SHEEP. 



has been so much weakened that the reproductive functions 

 have been rendered wholly inoperative. 



In order therefore to succeed in the acclimatation of aui- 

 nials in any strange and dissimilar climate 4o that in which 

 it has been reared, and in which it is found that it cannot 

 directly maintain itself or even live much less increase its 

 kind certain plans must be adopted. 



An intermediate station must be provided, in which the 

 differences .of climate and other circumstances growing out 

 of it, may be made available to partly secure the course of 

 improvement, and make this permanent during a course 

 of time, for some years and generations at least. Then 

 when favorable variations have been secured and made per- 

 manent, a careful selection of subjects are chosen to breed 

 from to fix this intermediate type, which is then made the 

 basis of- another advance. As in fact, an invader making an 

 attack upon a strong and well defended country, first makes 

 a permanent station at the scene of some great victory, and 

 there entrenches himself, fortifying the camp, and in some 

 cases building and populating a strong city, and from this 

 point of vantage making new incursions, and so repeating 

 these advances, until the last stronghold has been captured 

 and occupied, when the whole region then submits to the 

 conqueror. So the breeder makes a step in advance, and 

 there rests until this step is found to be firm and fixed. 

 Then another advance is made by another cross or selection 

 of the fixed type reached, and this when fixed is made the 

 point from which another advance is made. This is the 

 whole history of the art of breeding in this direction, and 

 has been the basis of the work and success of all the emi- 

 nent breeders of history. It is the way in which our various 

 fixed breeds of sheep have been formed, and the expert of 

 but moderate knowledge and experience knows this to be 

 true, as the result of his own work, if he is inclined to take 

 this as his guide. 



Next this intermediate station, or situation, or condition, 

 having been securely reached and held, the most eminent 

 members of the flock are selected for another advance, by 

 whomsoever this advance may be made. The hardiest ex- 

 amples of the breed, so far acclimatated, are selected; 

 and these submitted to the most careful culture until the 



