Chap. XX. 



METHODICAL SELECTION. 



195 



" should be no longer than just to prevent the animal's belly 

 " from trailing on the ground. The leg is the least profitable 

 " portion of the hog, and we therefore require no more of it than 

 " is absolutely necessary for the support of the rest." Let any 

 one compare the wild-boar with any improved breed, and he will 

 see how effectually the legs have been shortened. 



Few persons, except breeders, are aware of the systematic 

 care taken in selecting animals, and of the necessity of having a 

 clear and almost prophetic vision into futurity. Lord Spencer's 

 skill and judgment were well known ; and he writes, 5 " It is 

 " therefore very desirable, before any man commences to breed 

 " either cattle or sheep, that he should make up his mind to the 

 " shape and qualities he wishes to obtain, and steadily pursue 

 " this object." Lord Somerville, in speaking of the marvellous 

 improvement of the New Leicester sheep, effected by Bakewell 

 and his successors, says, " It would seem as if they had first 

 drawn a perfect form, and then given it life." Youatt 6 urges 

 the necessity of annually drafting each flock, as many animals 

 will certainly degenerate " from the standard of excellence, which 

 the breeder has established in his own mind." Even with a 

 bird of such little importance as the canary, long ago (1780- 

 1790) rules were established, and a standard of perfection was 

 fixed, according to which the London fanciers tried to breed the 

 several sub-varieties. 7 A great winner of prizes at the Pigeon- 

 shows, 8 in describing the Short-faced Almond Tumbler, says, 

 ' There are many first-rate fanciers who are particularly partial 

 ' to what is called the goldfinch-beak, which is very beautiful • 



< others say, take a full-size round cherry, then take a barley- 

 corn, and judiciously placing and thrusting it into the cherry 



< form as it were your beak ; and that is not all, for it will form 

 a good head and beak, provided, as I said before, it is iudi- 

 ciously done; others take an oat; but as I think the gold- 

 finch-beak the handsomest, I would advise the inexperienced 

 fancier to get the head of a goldfinch, and keep it bv him 

 for his observation." Wonderfully different as is the' beak 



of the rock pigeon and goldfinch, undoubtedly, as far as ex- 



J 'Journal of K. Agricult. Boo,' vol. i. p. 24. e 0n Sheep po 520 310 



J Loudon's - Mag. of Nat. Hist./ vol. viU., 1835 p 618 



A Treatise on the Art of Breeding the Almond Tumbler/ 1851, p. 0. 



o 2 



