328 
PHYSIOLOGY OP BREEDING. 
this may be, there can be no doubt that such influences do 
exist, and they have often great force in modifying future 
offspring. We know that similar results sometimes occur when 
there has not been any connection between the animals ; a 
singular instance of which is given in a pamphlet, 4 On a 
remarkable effect of Cross Breeding/ also by Dr. Harvey, 
which proves that a strong affection entertained by a bitch, 
for a dog of another and distinct breed to her own, exercised 
a very powerful influence over the offspring, and which was 
continued, although gradually weakened, over two or three 
successive litters of puppies. So that, in addition to Mr. 
Orton’s second rule, we have another, which may disturb all 
our calculations, which is perhaps entirely mental in its 
character, and therefore extremely difficult to ascertain and 
control. 
3d. There is the influence of visible objects at the time of 
conception on the imagination of the female, and perhaps of 
both parents. The earliest, and perhaps the most striking 
instance we have of this disturbing influence, occurs in 
Holy Writ. In the 30th chapter of Genesis is an account 
of the mode in which the shepherd patriarch became pos- 
sessed of Laban’s flock. It is there stated, that by 
placing sticks peeled in rings before the cattle at the time of 
conception, he produced ring-streaked, spotted, and speckled 
offspring. It will, perhaps, be said that this was an 
express interposition of Divine Providence to establish Jacob 
in wealth and prosperity ; but there are instances on record 
where the colour at least of the offspring has been arbitrarily 
controlled by adopting similar means ; and from what Mr. 
M‘Gillavray says, as quoted by Dr. Harvey in the pamphlet 
before alluded to, the Scottish farmers imagine that this 
influence may also be active during gestation, a supposition 
which acquires some confirmation from the fact, which cannot 
fail to occur to all medical men, of the frequent appearance 
of marks in the human race, and which are supposed to be 
the result of a morbid imagination in the mother during 
pregnancy. 
4th. Another powerful element in determining the charac- 
teristics of the offspring, is the tendency of all animals to 
what is generally called, I believe, breeding back that is, 
to reproduce characteristics that have been dormant or held in 
abeyance for even many generations. The knowledge of this 
fact should tend to diminish, if not entirely to dissipate, our 
surprise at the unexpected results of some of our breeding 
experiments ; and perhaps this is the place where I should 
notice what I think to be practically the most dangerous 
