44 Hereditary Diseases of Sheep and Pigs. 
and barrel, however, of the hinny are flat and narrow, in which 
it differs from the horse, and resembles its mother the ass. The 
mule and hinny,' adds Mr. Orton, ' have been selected and placed 
first, because they afford the most conclusive evidence, and are 
the most familiar.' Equally conclusive, although perhaps less 
striking instances may be drawn from other sources. Thus it 
has been observed, that when the Ancona, or other sheep, are 
allowed to breed with common ewes, the cross is not a medium 
between the two breeds, but that the offspring retains in a great 
measure the short and twisted legs of the sire. 
" Buffon made a cross between the male goat and ewe ; the 
resulting hybrid in all the instances, which were many, were 
strongly characteristic of the male parent, more particularly so in 
the hair and length of leg. Curiously enough, the number of 
teats in some of the cases corresponded witli those of the goat. 
"A cross between a male wolf and a bitch illustrates the same 
law ; the offspring having a markedly wolfish aspect, skin, colour, 
ears, and tail. On the other hand, a cross between the dog and 
female wolf afforded animals much more dog-like in aspect — 
slouched ears and even pied in colour. If you look to the de- 
scriptions and illustrations of these two hybrids, you will perceive 
at a glance that the doubt arises to the mind in the case of the 
first, 'What genus of ti:oIf is tliis?' whereas in the case of the 
second, 'What a curious mongrel dog !' 
"Amongst birds we have the same results, and they afford the 
like illustrations to our subject. Those who have had much to 
do with pigeons must have perceived that a cross between a 
carrier cock and a draqoon hen is always a fine bird, and very 
nearly equal to the carrier ; whereas a cross between a dragoon 
cock and carrier hen results in nothing better than a dragoon. 
Precisely the same may be observed in the cross between the 
tumbler and pouter. 
" ' It is curious to observe,' continues Mr. Orton, ' that the 
proposition I make regarding male influence should not only 
have been observed, but distinctly stated in so many words. Mr. 
Lloyd says : ' The caj>ercaiUi occasionally breed with the Mack 
grouse, and the produce are in Sweden called rachlclianen. These 
partake of the leading characters of both parents, but their size 
and colour greatly depend upon whether they have been pro- 
duced between the capercailli cock and grey hen, or vice versa 
(Yarrell, p. 298). The hybrid between the pheasant and grouse 
is a striking illustration, showing so clearly its male parent : in 
almost all respects it is a pheasant, only the tail slightly short- 
ened. It may be observed, too, that the feathered feet of the 
grouse have disappeared in the offspring (ibid, p, -309). Another 
