24 



FANCY MICE. 



white is the original colour of the progenitors of domestic cattle? 

 One experiment is not enough to decide questions in colour breeding, 

 and we would suggest, if Dr. Carter Blake still keeps mice, that he 

 pair a black and a white mouse together, and from their produce again 

 pair a black and a white one together, and so on for say six genera- 

 tions, making a note of the resultant litter from each cross. The 

 whole experiment will not take more than about two years, and we 

 have no doubt, at the end of that time the Doctor will admit that we 

 are not so far wrong in our hints as to crossing for colour, and that 

 the colours have got somewhat mixed. We claim very little from a 

 first cross, but by selection of the colour we want from a series of in- 

 and-in crosses, a colour will get fixed, and a fixed variety — so far as 

 colour is concerned — will be obtained. At the same time we are 

 open to admit that the subject of breeding for colour is much 

 confused, and is a matter of much discussion ; but if, instead of going 

 in for one experiment only, persons interested would take the same 

 family — i.e., from one father and mother — through several genera- 

 tions and carefully note the result, order would result from the 

 present state of chaos. 



