LAW OF VARIATION. 55 



paratively few, yet there is abundant reason to believe, 

 that although in a majority of cases the effect may be 

 less noticeable, it is not less real, and demands the 

 special attention of all breeders. 



Whether this result is to be ascribed to inoculation 

 of the system of the female with the characteristics of 

 the male through the foetus, or to any other mode of 

 operation, it is obviously of great advantage for every 

 breeder to know it and thereby both avoid error and 

 loss and secure profit. It is a matter which deserves 

 thorough investigation and the observations should be 

 minute and have regard not only to peculiarities of 

 form, but also to qualities and characteristics not so 

 obvious ; for instance there may be greater or less har- 

 diness, endurance or aptitude to fatten. These may be 

 usually more dependent on the dam, but the male is 

 never without a degree of influence upon them, and it 

 is well established that aptitude to fatten is usually 

 communicated by the Short-horn bull to crosses with 

 cattle of mixed or mongrel origin which are often very 

 deficient in this desirable property. 



Mr. McGillivray says : " A knowledge of the fact 

 must be of the greatest benefit to the breeder in two 

 ways, positively and negatively. I have known very 

 great disappointment and loss result from allowing an 

 inferior male to serve a first rate female — the useful- 

 6 



