THE CROSSING, AC, OF CATTLE, ET AL. 331 



tions, without injury, pleads in vain for their lives. 

 The butcher closes the last scene of all. 



Is it any wonder, that crossing is regarded, with 

 aversion, by every breeder? 



"Until quite recently," says Darwin (p 5 . 122, Vol. ii, 

 Animals and Plants, &c), "cautious and experienced 

 breeders, though not averse to a single infusion of 

 foreign blood, were almost universally convinced, that 

 the attempt to establish a new race, intermediate be- 

 tween two widely distinct races, was hopeless; 'they 

 cling with superstitious tenacity, to the doctrine of 

 purity of blood, believing it to be the ark in which 

 alone true safety could be found.' " 



And again he says, not of Cattle and Sheep espe- 

 cially, but of all animals (p. 122, Vol. ii, Animals and 

 Plants, &c.) : 



"As cross-bred animals are, generally, of large size 

 and vigorous, they have been raised in great numbers, 

 for immediate consumption. But, for breeding, they 

 are found to be utterly useless ; for, though they may 

 be themselves uniform in character, when paired to- 

 gether, they yield during many generations, offspring 

 astonishingly diversified. The breeder is driven to 

 despair, and concludes that he will never form an in- 

 termediate race. But, from the causes already given, 

 and from others which have been recorded, it appears 

 that patience alone is necessary; as Mr. Spooner re- 

 marks 'nature opposes no barrier to successful admix- 

 ture; in the course of time, by the aid of selection and 

 careful weeding, it is practicable to establish a new 

 breed.' After six or seven generations, the hoped-for 

 result will, in most cases, be obtained; but even then, 

 an occasional reversion, or failure to keep true, may be 

 expected. The attempt, however, will assuredly fail, if 



