CHAPTER XL. 



"Tub IE is one thing you should always bear in mind," 

 said a nttorious shark to me, one day, ivhile we conversed 

 upon the subject of breeding live-stock successfully — 

 "there is one thing you should always remember; and 

 that is, under no circumstances ever permit a fowl or a pig 

 to pass out of your hands to a purchaser, unless you knov) 

 him to be of pure blood." 



This is a pretty theory, and, I have no doubt, such a 

 course would work to admiration, if faithfully carried out 

 (as / always intended to do, by the way) ; but in this 

 country this was easier to talk . about than to accomplish. 

 I have now a letter before me, received some years since, 

 upon this point, and which will give the reader some idea 

 how far this thing extended in certain quarters, and what 

 came of it. 



' ' Sir : I have been informed by my friends, and I have 

 seen it stated in the poultry-books generally, that you are 



