CHAPTER VIII. 



JMating and Selection. 



In mating sheep the qualities of both parents must be con- 

 sidered, aiming to correct the bad ones and at the same time per- 

 petuate those which are desirable. In the greater number of 

 cases the influence of the male on the offspring is found to ex- 

 ceed that of the female. This is seen in other animals as well as 

 sheep. A mule, for instance, simulates its sire, the ass, in gen- 

 eral conformation and habits; a small mare bred to a large stal- 

 lion produces an offspring half as large again as itself; a Lincoln 

 ram on a Down etve will produce offspring resembling the 

 former more than the latter. Nature's laws seeming to be that 

 the sire shall to the greater extent fix the conformation of the 

 offspring, the disposition being frequently governed by that of 

 the dam, the exceptions to this being few, and only tend to prove 

 the rule. In mating and selecting sheep, breeders seek for 

 various points, not so much on account of their particular value 

 when taken singly, but because they are evidence of other valu- 

 able qualities, such as an ability to quickly take on flesh or 

 mature early. Thus we find that in the Southdown breed small 

 heads and legs and small bones are sought after, as these quali- 

 ties are found to be accompanied with exceptional fattening 

 properties. Again black legs and muzzles are desirable, gener- 

 ally insuring a hardy constitution. These then are only the 

 signs of good qualities, the qualities themselves consisting in the 

 different points tending to make up the general conformation of 

 the animal; for instance, a straight back is a quality in itself, as 

 also is breadth of loin and rotundity of frame. A straight back 



