Oil Cross Breeding. 
311 
influence of the male over the size and external appearance of the 
offspring ; so that it is desirable, for the purposes of the butcher, 
that the male should be of a larger frame than the female, and 
should excel in those peculiarities we are desirous of repioducing. 
Let it be here, however, repeated as an exceptional truth, that 
though as a rule the male parent influences mostly the size and 
external form, and the female parent the constitution, general 
health, and vital powers, yet that the opposite result sometimes 
takes place. 
3rd. Certain peculiarities may be imparted to a breed by a 
single ci'oss. Thus, the ponies of the New Forest exhibit cha- 
racteristics of blood, although it is many years since a thorough- 
bred horse was turned into tlie forest for the purpose. So, like- 
wise, we observe in the Hampshire sheep the Roman nose and 
large heads which formed so strong a feature in their maternal 
ancestors, although successive crosses of the Southdown were 
employed to change the character of the breed. 
It has been asserted by some observers, that when a female 
breeds successively from several different males, the offspring 
often bear a strong resemblance to the first male ; which is 
supposed to arise from certain impressions made on the imagina- 
tion or nervous system of the female. Although this is some- 
times or often the case, we doubt very much whether it is so 
frequent as to be considered as a rule. 
4th. Although in the crossing of sheep for the purpose of the 
butcher, it is generally advisable to use males of a larger breed, 
provided they possess a disposition to fatten, yet, in such cases, 
it is of importance that the pelvis of the female should be w^ide 
and capacious, so that no injury should arise in lamljing, in con- 
sequence of the increased size of the heads of the lambs. The 
shape of the ram's head should be studied for tlie same reason. 
In crossing, however, for the purpose "of establishing a new 
breed, the size of the male must give way to other more im- 
portant considerations ; although it will still be desirable to use 
a large female of the breed which we seek to improve. I'hus the 
South-downs have vastly improved the larger Hampshires, and 
the Leicester the huge Lincolns and the Cotswolds. 
5th. Although the benefits are most evident in the first cross, 
after which, from pairing the cross-bred animals, the defects of 
one breed or jthe other, or the incongruities of both, are per- 
petually breaking out, yet, unless the characteristics and con- 
formation of the two breeds are altogether averse to each other, 
nature opposes no bai-rier to their successful admixture ; so that, 
in the course of time, by the aid of selection and careful 
Aveeding, it is practicable to establish a new breed altogether. 
This, in fact, has been the history of our principal breeds. The 
