708 Some Aspects of the Science of Breeding, [dec, 



the investigators must wait till 191 1 before the first-cross off- 

 spring will be of the same age and consequently at the same 

 stage of growth as the parents were at the time of measure- 

 ment. Not only have measurements of sheep with sheep to be 

 compared, but different measurements on the same animal 

 must be examined to see if there is any correlation of "points " 

 to be found. 



A belief undoubtedly exists among practical farmers that 

 certain " points " and characters are correlated. For instance, 

 among horses, the Shire breeders' belief is that abundance of a 

 particular type of hair denotes constitutional vigour. Again, 

 abundance of straight, silky hair is said to denote among swine 

 the existence of a large proportion of lean flesh. Face and leg 

 colour in sheep are held to be indications of a special type of 

 mutton, which is further alleged to be of a " short-grain " and 

 distinct flavour, which is particularly palatable to the epicure. 

 A yellow colour of skin and horn in cattle is held to denote rich 

 milk, and width between the eyes is very universally believed 

 to denote strength of constitution. A short, wide head, with a 

 deep, well sprung, clean jaw, free from "throatiness," is very 

 firmly believed by very many graziers to denote quick-feeding 

 capacity in bullocks. 



Innumerable instances of belief in some particular "point*' 

 denoting some particular character will be known to all who 

 have made an extended study of animal husbandry, and it 

 would be wearisome to refer to more than the instances already 

 given. Very few who have given much attention to the sub- 

 ject would be prepared to say that there is no truth in any of 

 these alleged correlations. On the other hand, there is little 

 more than the personal opinion, and that by no manner of 

 means universal, of the intelligent breeder, stud-groom, or j 

 cowman to demonstrate the truth of the existence of (to borrow 

 a Mendelian term) such "coupling" in live stock. It seems ; 

 self-evident that it is necessary to ascertain how much truth ! 

 there is in any or all of them, for they are factors which might 

 be of the greatest possible value to the man of science. 



One department of this subject to which the writer has given 

 considerable attention is represented by the " points " of a 

 deep milking cow. It has been held for a long time that a 

 milch cow should be fine at the chine, well-sprung in the rib, 



