256 BREEDING. 



known breeder of this dog in the present day, or from Sir H. 

 Goodrich, Mr. Moore, or Mr. Edge, so celebrated for their breeds 

 some years ago, would be valued more highly than another with- 

 out any pedigree at all, although the latter might be superior 

 in shape, and might perform equally well in the field. The 

 importance of pedigree is becoming more fully recognised every 

 year, and experienced breeders generally refuse to have anything 

 to do with either dog or bitch for this particular purpose, unless 

 they can trace the pedigree to ancestors belonging to parties who 

 were hnovm to he themselves careful in their selections. In most 

 cases this is all that is attempted, especially in pointers, setters, 

 spaniels, &c, but in greyhounds and foxhounds of first-class blood 

 the genealogy may generally be traced through half a dozen 

 kennels of known and established reputation; and this same 

 attention to breed ought to prevail in all the varieties of 4;he dog 

 whose performances are of importance, and indeed without it the 

 reproduction of a particular shape and make cannot with anything 

 like certainty be depended on. Hence the breeders of valuable 

 toy dogs, such as King Charles spaniels, Italian greyhounds, &c, 

 are as careful as they need be, having found out by experience 

 that without this attention they are constantly disappointed. 



CROSSING AND CROSSED BREEDS. 



Crossing is practised with two distinct objects in view : — 1st, To 

 prevent degeneration in consequence of keeping to the same blood, 

 or what is called " in-and-in " breeding ; and 2dly, "With the 

 view of improving particular breeds when they are deficient in 

 any desirable quality, by crossing with others which have it in 

 perfection, or often in excess. The first of these will be better 



