G02 REPORT— 1898. 



measures is slightly increased. I have already discussed the question for a 

 different and more complicated series of data in ' Photographic Measure- 

 ments of Horses and other Animals' {Nature, Jan. 6, 1898), which will 

 show the general character of the problem, but I cannot enter into par- 

 ticulars now. The primary question is, will photographers and grooms 

 take the proposed measurements with sufficient correctness, and are any 

 additions to them feasible ? To settle this question, many experiments 

 should be concentrated by more than one photographer upon the same 

 quiet and well-measured animals. These ought to determine the trust- 

 worthiness of the results according to the data in use, and would show 

 the minimum of effort that is necessary to afford the required degree of 

 accuracy. I should be content if the average error in the calculated height 

 and length of the horse did not exceed one inch, or say one-and-a-half 

 per cent. 



Systematic Collection of Photographs. — It remains to consider what has 

 hitherto been taken for granted — the best method of starting a systematic 

 collection of photographs of pedigree stock. My proposal is to suggest to 

 the principal Societies which publish stud or herd books, that they should 

 proceed as follows : 



(1) To arrange with a photographer to store such negatives as the 

 Society may hand over to his charge ; he undertaking to supply prints 

 from them to the public at a moderate cost and under reasonable 

 regulations. 



(2) To invite owners of pure-bi-ed stock to send to the Society with 

 which they are in connection, a negative photographic plate of each of the 

 animals which they use for breeding, and which are therefore adult, on 

 the understanding that if the negative be accepted by the Society it will 

 be handed over to the photographer. 



(3) Only those negatives will be considered suitable for acceptance 

 {a) which are of good quality ; {b) which do not transgress specified limits 

 of size ; (c) which scrutiny shows to be strictly side views ; (d) which have 

 been taken at a distance from the animal of not less than 30 feet ; and 

 (e) which show the animal standing on hard ground. 



(4) The following information is to be stamped or written on the 

 negative in such a way as to be clearly legible in the prints : (1) the name 

 and sex of the animal, (2) year of its birth, (3) year and month of taking 

 the photograph, (4) heights at its withers and croup, (5) height of camera 

 and its distance from the animal. 



(5) The Society shall order an asterisk to be affixed to the name of 

 each animal entered in its stud or herd book, when the photographic 

 negatives of its sire and dam have been accepted. 



It seems to me that a system such as this would be efficient, self-support- 

 ing and acceptable to all parties. Breeders would be pleased that photo- 

 graphs of their animals should be publicly recognised as serviceable for the 

 advancement of their art. Owners of valuable animals are almost sure to 

 order photographs of them on their own account, so the gift of the negatives 

 to the Society would deprive them of nothing. The asterisks applied to 

 the names of the offspring would l^e a valued distinction, and would help 



