BREEDING AND REARING. 7 



is the respective influence on the progeny of 

 either parent. It is, I believe, the opinion 

 of all breeders of wide experience that no 

 rule of absolute, or even approximate cer- 

 tainty can be laid down, so much seeming 

 to depend upon the comparative vigour and 

 strength of constitution of the parent of 

 either sex. It has even been stated that 

 there have been more instances than one 

 of own brothers being used in the stud, in 

 which one has got stock resembling himself 

 in all particulars, even in the non-essential 

 matter of colour ; while the other, for some 

 unknown reason, has begotten descendants 

 so unlike as to be rarely recognisable as 

 his offspring. My own experience, so far 

 as it goes, is to the effect that the produce 

 is apt to resemble the sire more nearly 

 in temper, spirit, and, perhaps, in outward 

 configuration ; the dam in size, stamina, 

 and constitution. 



For this reason we should be the less 



