IX THE BREEDING CLASSES 45 



diverge from each other, the male acquiring characteristics 

 that are distinctly masculine, while the female acquires 

 others peculiarly feminine in that they are strikingly dif- 

 ferent from those of the male. The reproductive cells of 

 each seem through their characteristics to influence the 

 peculiarities of the sexes in a remarkable manner. 



76. Differences in Disposition. In all classes of farm 

 live stock there are very noticeable differences in disposi- 

 tion, that may be credited to the influence of the sex. The 

 active disposition of the male animal oftentimes is forced 

 to spend itself in the development of viciousness and it 

 cannot be disputed that such has been true of many of the 

 best breeding sires, especially among those of the lighter 

 breeds of horses and the dairy breeds of cattle. The differ- 

 ence in the nature of the sexes is even characteristic of the 

 reproductive cells the sperm or male cell being active and 

 smaller, while the ovum or female cell is larger and more 

 stable. From this condition through the various stages of 

 life the differences in the disposition of the sexes is. easily 

 traceable. The lamb of the male sex becomes combative 

 and more active in disposition as he develops while the ewe 

 lamb loses the early activity that was common to all and 

 develops into the gentler ewe ; the calf of the male has a 

 fierceness of mien that seeks active experssion in imaginary 

 combats, becoming easily excited to anger, when it is no- 

 ticeable that the suppliant bawl has become a fierce roar ; 

 while the cow has lost the playful energy that she had as 

 a calf and now has none to spare for anything but her quiet 

 vocation of making milk ; the colts tend to develop the 

 same restless activities while the fillies assume the quieter 

 quality of mind common to maternity, and in like manner 

 the pigs separate in their dispositions as the sex character- 

 istics become pronounced. Thus in all live stock the 

 changes of disposition are traceable to sexual development 



