244 The Course, the Cajnp, the Chase 



mean of putting male and female together, with no con- 

 sideration but that of blood and a proper cross, it is no 

 wonder that so few good racers are produced. 



" I would not be thought in this to prefer my own 

 opinion of shape and make to the known goodness of any 

 stallion, but would prefer the latter before the opinion of 

 all mankind. . . . 



" It is not every horse who has been a good racer will 

 get good colts. . . . But the most material thing in 

 breeding in all animals, and to which we pay the least 

 regards, either in the race of men or horses, is the choice 

 of the female . . . and here I beg leave to be allowed one 

 quotation from Virgil, in the 3rd chapter of the Georgics 

 and the 49 th verse. 



* Seu quis olympiaco miratus prcemia palmo 

 Pascit equos, Seu quis fortes ad aratra Juvencos, 

 Corpora prsecipue matrum legat.' 



" We pay little regard to the mechanism of the female 

 or of the horse to which we put her, but generally choose 

 some particular horse for the sake of the cross, or because 

 he is called an Arabian. . . . 



" Amongst dogs we shall find the foxhound prevailing 

 over all others in speed and in bottom, but if not in speed, 

 in bottom at least I hope it will be allowed. To what 

 shall we impute this perfection in him ? Shall we impute 

 it to his blood or to that elegance of form in which is found 

 no unnecessary weight to oppress the muscles or detract 

 from his ability of perseverance ? . . . 



" Surely no man means more when he talks of the 

 blood of foxhounds than to intimate that they are 

 descended from such, whose ancestors have been eminent 

 for their good qualifications, and have shone conspicuous in 



