532 The Influence of Dexter Cattle on other Breeds. 
sparsely pastured mountains, forests or jungles. They have 
been developed by careful selection and on rich diet into the 
finest breeds in the world, and it is no more a slur on their 
capabilities that they do not necessarily adapt themselves to 
some less advantageous circumstances of feeding, than it is on 
the Lincoln sheep that it does not thrive so well on a thin-skinned 
turf growing on a hill slope, as it does on a rich lowland pasture ; 
or that a forest breed does not maintain its type and keep sound 
on its feet when brought to the lowlands. It therefore appears 
desirable that small native breeds of cattle, accustomed to hard 
conditions of life, should be mated with animals which possess 
Fig. 1.— Zebu Bull in the Zoological Gardens, Dublin. 
superior points acquired or maintained under somewhat similar 
conditions of hard living. Unfortunately, such breeds are not 
common, and there is a further difficulty in that they may not 
“ nick in ” with the breed they are desired to improve ; but, on 
the other hand, the inferior points in the two breeds may be 
accentuated, and harm, rather than good, result. The breed 
used to improve the other must not only be superior in appear- 
ance and in thriving properties, but must be prepotent, so that it 
shall endow the inferior with its good points. This brings us face 
to face with another difficulty : the hardy hill breeds which have 
been improved by careful selection are rare. The breed required 
