Breedinrj of Farm-Stock. 
3 
but with a o^rcater power for the hereditary transmission of this 
charactei-. On the other hand, animals havinj^ opposite cha- 
racters mutually weaken each other's influence, and the oflspring 
only possess the power of hereditary transmission in a reduced 
de<jree. 
This jiower of perpetuating character is not confined to any 
one quality, but it extends to every peculiarity of the animal, 
whether it be similarity of feature, configuration of the body, 
general habit of growth, disposition for fattening, the formation 
of milk, healthy constitution, predisposition to disease, tempera- 
ment, — all aie alike hereditary and are modified in their trans- 
mission by the mutual influence of the parents. It would appear 
as if every individual point of character were thus controlled and 
balanced according to the respective tendencies of the paients, 
and that the resultant character represented a series of balances, 
sometimes in favour of the male, at other times in favour of the 
female. The dam might succeed in communicating the general 
form to the body but be unable to overcome the stronger power 
of the male over some certain portion of the body. The dam 
might be naturally deficient, for instance, in her hind-quarters 
and good in other parts, and under the influence of a sire having 
a powerful tendency to produce a good hind-quarter she may be 
compelled to yield to his superior influence. In certain points of 
chai'acter, where they corresponded, the influence would be 
increased. In some particulars the dam might predominate, 
and in other respects the sire might be most influential. Thus 
the hereditary powers of carefully-bred stock will represent tbe 
maximum of good influences and a minimum of those whicli are 
undesirable. 
In our wild animals we have natural laws operating whereby 
they are preserved from degeneracy. Thus their powers of 
vitality are preserved and constitutional disease reduced to its 
lowest point. Immediately the male has passed the prime of 
life and his natural vigour begins to diminish, he ceases to hold 
his position against younger males of more strength. Thus in 
the sanguinary conflicts amongst the male animals of wild 
species, in Avhich the supremacy is contested, we see one means 
established by Nature for securing the perpetuation of the species 
to the strongest and most vigorous males. In like manner, those 
of unripe age, as well as those which are the subjects of disease, 
are held in check by those which are vigorous and healthy, and 
the consequence is that a strong constitution is secured to their 
offspring. By domestication we interfere with the action of 
these natural laws. We seek to establish and perpetuate certain 
peculiarities of the animal system which are unnatural, but 
which are, at the same time, very desirable for our comfort and 
B 2 
