Varicties of the Dog. 31 
old southern hound, the object being to remedy the present 
defective constitution. This has resulted in all proba- 
bility from what is understood to be “close breeding,” 
which, being freely translated, signifies breeding from 
defective animals. Close consanguinity with the best and 
healthiest animals gave us our unparalleled flocks and 
herds, and the same will hold good with dogs of all 
breeds. “Like produces like,” was the watchword of 
Bakewell, and as he followed with unerring precision the 
principles embodied in the phrase, he produced the best 
‘animals, and, conversely, he realised that unless he did 
so, the produce would be anything but good. It is not 
generally understood how unerringly the defects of an 
animal are handed down from parent to offspring, and it 
is chiefly to this that the incongruous mating of animals 
is due. The general idea is that if a sire tenga a. 
quality which is absent in the dam, the offspring, in 
accordance with laws hitherto unexplained, will 
certainly derive that quality. We shall not attempt to 
argue that this is impossible, but feel at liberty to quote 
from experience, and state unhesitatingly whether the 
desirable qualification is, or is not handed down, it is 
quite certain, if there are serious defects they will be 
assuredly transmitted to the offspring. All men of 
shrewd character and experience in these matters are 
thoroughly well agreed on the point that half a dozen 
excellent qualities in the sire will not dissipate or neu- 
tralise one bad one in the dam. Whatsoever, therefore, 
we desire in the offspring, we must assure ourselves are 
to be found in the parents, whether it be soundness 
of constitution, perfection in form, action, etc., and when 
these are present, closeness of consanguinity will unerr- 
ingly perpetuate them. On the other hand, all the 
desirable qualifications may be found in two strange 
animals; if so, there is no reason why they should not 
be mated. This is the simple law of the question. 
The most celebrated breeders in past years were Lords 
Yarborough, Fitzwilliam, and Faversham ; the Honour- 
able leg Berkeley ; Mr. Jennings, of Pickering, 
Yorkshire ; Mr. Cowen, of Blaydon-on-Tyne; Mr. Harri- 
