xt7w0v89h85v https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7w0v89h85v/data/mets.xml Helm, Henry T. 1878  books b98-36-40283612 English Rand, McNally, : Chicago : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Horse racing. American roadsters and trotting horses  : being a sketch of the trotting stallions of the United States, and a treatise on the breeding of the same-- / by H.T. Helm. text American roadsters and trotting horses  : being a sketch of the trotting stallions of the United States, and a treatise on the breeding of the same-- / by H.T. Helm. 1878 2002 true xt7w0v89h85v section xt7w0v89h85v 




















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AMERICAN ROA1)STERS

                        N,H



      TROTT ING HORSES.



                 111\.[Nl  A  OF'I 'I'II   III'  '111:


TROTTING STALLIONS OF THlE UNITED STATES,

                       A\il A


   TREATISE ON THE BREEDING OF THE SAME,



                WITH AN APPENDIX

SHOWING'r 'I'E UEDY-UEM AND BREEDING SO FAR As KNOWN, fr ALJL TROT-
   TEllS THAT 11AVE A RECORD TtN 2-2, OR BETTER, A-ID rONTAIMING
      MUCH! PRACTICAL. MArTER RELATING TO TIHE BRIEAKING,
          MANAGENMEN'T AND TREATMENT OF TROTTI7NG
                 AND BREEDING STOCK.


Illustrated with Photo-Views of the Representative Stallions of the Past and Preseol.





             By I1. T. HIELM,
                  CULNIrELOI AT lAW.





                    CHICAGO
           RAND, McNALLY & CO.
                      1 8 7 S.

 




































  Entered according to Act Ef Coges in tile year, 187. by

              RAND   McNALLY & ''(..
in the uffice of the Librarian of Congre at DwI.in,.P. D.

 







                 TABLE OF CONTENTS.



INTRODUCTIOX  , -   --.  
CRAIrrn      I. Breeding Problemi -Heredity- Selection-Cross-
                  breeding-In-breteding-Develtopment.  -        !i
CHAPTER     11. Trotting Philosophy-Mental and Physical Organ-
                   ism- -3
CHAPTER    III. Racing Bloodd. -         -        -
CHAPTER     IV. The Pacing Element.                             92
CHAPTER     V. So.orces of Trotting BIIHXI-Meest nger-Belltounder
                  -Duroc-St. Lawrence - Bashawas-Canadians.
                  etc., etc.                                  Mi
CHAPTER     VI. Hanilbletoniatt.                               151
CHAPTER    VII. Volunteer.                                     181
CHAPTER   ViII. Florida,   -        --
CHAPTER    IX. Administrator,                                 212
CHAPTER     X. Alhamabra and Messenger l)uroc.   -             2 2;
CHAPTER    XI. Everett and the Star-Hamubletonians.  -     -  244)
CHAPTER   XII. Alexander's Abdallah. and his Descendants.  -  212
('IIAPTER  XIII. Clay Hambletonians-George Wilkes-Knicker-
                  lbcker-Peacemnaker-Blllackst4one-Black's Haum.
                  hletonian-Hambletonian  Prince-Idol and
                  Electioneer,   -   -            -    -   - 29
CHAPTER   XIV. HambletoniansIn-bred Albdallahs-Lakeland A.b-
                  dallah-Stephen A. Douglus-Lysander,  -   -  31I
CHAPTvHr   XV. Other Sions f Hambletonian-Cuyler-Happy
                   Mledium -D)uke 4 Brunswickk-Middletown-
                   Guy Miller - Logan - Seneca Chief- Willie
                   Schepper.                                   320
CHAPTER   XVI. Abdallahs, not Hambletonians, of Male and Female
                  Descent. .--                                  5
CHAPTER  XVIl. Champions..-                                    34
C'HAPTm XVIII. Royal Georges,                - .
CHAPTER   XIX. Bashaws andi Clias. -               -;W1
CHAPTER    XX. Smuggler.     -87
CHAPTER XXI. Governor Sprague-- 399
CHAPTER XXII. Mambrino Chief-                                  416

 




iv



TABLE OF CONTENTS.



CHAvrvnt XXIII. Descendants of MamIbrino Chief-     ly Thorn-
                  Mambrino Patehen-Eriecon-wClark Chief-
                  Woodford Mambrino-North Star Mambtrino-
                  Idol-Mambrino Star-and others to the present
                  date,   -   -    -   -   -   -
CAIPTrElt XXIV. Blackwood-Swigert-)lkn m2arlos, -
CHAIrYFR XXV. Pilot, and his De-endalnts in the Male Line, inc Ild-
                  ing Pilot Jr., Tattler, Voltaire, Wooliurn Pilot,
                  and Argonaut,
(CHAvrEa XXVI. Justin Morgan, and his Descendants in the Male
                  Line, including Vermont Blackhawk. kGeneral
                  Knox, Ethan Allen, lDaniel Lamlbert, and the
                  Morrills.   -   -   -    -   -   -   -    -

APPFNDIX:
Alphabetical List of the Hors s which, had trotted in 2:25) or better,
     by the Record, prior to Janiary, 1878, givilng the Pedigres of
     the same so far as authenticated.
 Miscellaneous Table Trotting Reeords,
 Practical Suggestions with reference to the M1anagement of Breeding
     and Trotting Stock,



ILLUSTRATIONS.



HAMBL..TONI[AN,
BEL.FOrINDFRR,
G IMcRcK.   -   
FLXoRIDA,  -
ADmINISTRATO)R.
EDWARD EVERErr.
TIORNDAL.E,
ALMONT,    -
LAKEIAND AnRDnAL.II.
CivYIER, - -
Byao i,  -
GOVERNOR SPRAGUE,
MAMBRINO PATCHENP.
VOLTAIRE, -  -   -
VERMONT BLA(nHAWI,



--      -   -   Frontispiece.
          -    Facing page 12:3
                        140

       --- -           212
  -  -    -          ' 240
-  -    -   -           268
     -        -       2844
           --          312
  -   -   -             82 0
     - -               1158
                -     4'.01
        - -          X  492
        - --         ..  494
     -.-   -        .. 5. 0 8;



4:18
46f9



487,



529
534

_37

 







                    INTRODUCT ION.


   IN- the spring of 18X7, I began the preparation of a series of
articles on The Trotting Stallions, for publication in the Xetion/
Le-.Stock. urnl,l of Chicago. The scope and design of the sanie,
at first limited, was enlargell (luring the progress of the chapters
which extended through the year. The consideration which those
articles received from the readers of that and other journals which in
part copied them, was gratifying to me, atid the numerous letters and
words of commendation received from every part of this country and
beyond the Atlantic, have gone far toward inducing me to put the
treatise thus imperfectly outlined into more complete and permanent
fornu.
  My stuidy of the Trotting Horse has extended through a period of
several years, and I have not studied the subject as most editors of
journals devoted to kindred subjects have usually done, with no actual
contact with the aninials-being maimly a matter of theory on paper.
On the contrary, while I have also been closely engaged in profes-
sional jiursuits. I have been more or less concerned with agricultural
enterprises and affairs alnmost continuously for the past twenty years,
and for the past tell years have been a horse breeder, having bred in
the States of Connecticut. New York, Ohio. Kentiieky and Wisconsin,
in addition to the ket-pinig of a large list at honme most of the time.
I speak not of myi suevesses--thmev have been maiiilv for the benefit
of others, as I thinik a man who rinis two professions at the same time,
as I have done, will not le likely to advance his own interests at
either; buit for all this. my opportunities for studying horses have been
somethiiig of whioh I may speak.
  While I have known most of the gentlemen who are breeders of
horses iii different parts of the country. and have read the greater
part of the current horse literature for the past tell years, I must still
be allowed to say that I have learned more from the horses themselves
than from all other sources. I have re(ived nIyl best lessotis from themim,
and have learmied the imlpnortance and value of studying the animals, and
in them learning their comuformatiomis, comlp)sitions and blood traits.
Had I never made the animals a study in all their essential parts, [
                                                            C)

 

INTRODUCTION.



think I should never haye undertaken to write regarding them. I
will not speak lightly of the horse literature of the day in this con-
nection; it has been of value to me, but that which has taught me
most, was my mingling with and close study of the animals.
  I am not a journalist, and have no interest in one. I never wrote
an article in my life for pecuniary recompense. In my sketches of
the vanrons trotting stallions I have at all times declined recompense,
being unwilling to be placed under any obligations to the owners-
other than that which I owed tw the reading public-to be fair and
faithful in portraying -xcellences or in delineating faults. In some
instances the owners of protminent stallions have tendered me the
compliment of the gratuitous service of a stallion-which, as a breeder
I have felt at all times at liberty to accept-but in no case at the
expense of an unfair or unfaithful expression of opinion with reference
to the particular animal or any other.
  My readers have the assurance that the opinions herein expressed
are my own-so far as they purport to he-and io one else is to be
held accountable for them or accredited with them. Whether they
be approved or assailed, as they have in each case, in the past, makes
no difference with me. Such is the privilege of every one in this
country.
  That my methods of studying and describing horses have been
novel to some of the writing genitlenien. is not singular. They never
studied horses in that way, and it may also be said, that from their
descriptions in many cases, their realers never derived much informna-
tion. Superficiality has never been one of my standards in the inves-
tigation of any subject, and if my delineations of the composition,
blood traits, conformation and charweteristics of horses have differed
from the stereotyped foni long in use, it has been the result of the
difference in my methods of study and investigation pursued.
  Some regard it as a matter of delicacy to write or speak of the
respective merits of other people's stock-and it is said that this stal-
lion business is a sensitive spot: I have no such feeling. All breed-
ers have a common interest in the general improvement of stock in this
country, and information relative to the subject is the property of all
who can fairly obtain it.
  If a stallion posesses qualities unknown to the public, they look,
in'great part, to the stock journals to learn his value; and if a rank
has been given to or claimed for an animal which is not justiied by
his merits, any one desiring to read, has a just right to correct infor-



vi

 

INTROD UCTION.



mation or opinions on the subject. Horses, in this respect, are no
better or more sacred than men; and reputation should be measured
by their deeds and character. The reputation (of all animal is largely
dependent upon its owner. Many horses of great merit are not so
known to the public. because their owners do not employ all the arts
and appliances that pertain to the business to bring them famously
into notice. When I have found such an animal. I have not hesitated
to disclose to my readers some glimmer of his voneealed light. On
the other hand, it is equally true that by dint of artful advertising,
and the employment of cunning devices-the ways of which are
without number, and past finding out to those whose interests lead
them to be duped-mnany animals have for a time secured a fame and
prominence which gathered money into the lockets of their shrewd
and unscrupulous managers, but whose real nierits were so meagre as
to give no reward to the enterprise, or return for the mooney of their
misled patrons. Where I have encountered any such as these, my
pen has not failed to prick the bubble that swelled with their great
nothingness. I deal with facts as I obtain them, arid in opinions as
I hold them.
  It is not believed that we have yet bred a stallion so near perfection
that we may not discuss his merits, arid refer to his faults if he have
them. Some exception can lwrhalp be taken to the best stallion we
have seen.  Administrator, Cuyler, Florida, Volunteer, Almont,
Thorndale, Daniel Lambert, Blackwlied and Governor Sprague, and
the many others described herein, are all good horses, and great stal-
lions, but to each souse just exception mnray be properly taken, vet
their merits are so great, that their respective owners need feel in no
way sensitive because they can not be pronounced alnsolutely perfect.
It will be seen that while I have found and p1Kinted out defects when
they existed, my work has been mainly devoted tm lportraying excel-
lences and the better traits. This results fromi the fact that I write of
the best and most distinguished horses of our niay, rather than those
which only exhibit inlfiruities.
  Inasmuch as it has been my aini to make each subject as complete
in itself as possible without reference to its being a part of an entire
treatise, there will be found very frequent repetitions of similar matter
both in facts arid in application of principles advanced, and in each
of two instances I have repeated a page or more is rnrbis. Such
repetitions may occupy much space, but the recurrence to the matter
thus brought out in new relations will not be without its value. Some



nii

 

viii



INTRODUCTION.



of my positions have been newly taken, and I have teeuied it wise
that the proper evidences accompany them in each case restively.
  In my reference to time records, I have used the tables which have
been prepared for the Stock Journals, three of them in number, and as
they do not altogether agree, I wish it understootd that allowance
must be made therein for any imperfections or errors of records.
  It is proper that I should state that in the pursuit of the studies
which have resulted in this work, and in the preparation of the treatise
itself, I have made free use of all the current hooks, journals and
other literature of the day bearing on the subject under consideration.
The Stud Boo ks and volumes of the 7'rvtiuq Reyisbr, of course,
have been my constant books of reference in the study of pedigrees.
and the various turf and other journials have fumrnished me niuch
information. I wish to sav that while I frequently refer to the over-
turning of pedigrees in the Troifibq, Rr!,ixt.r, it is with no spirit of
fault finding. The very careful and laboriouis editor makes his pedi-
grees from the best infonnation at hand, and I ani happy to say, that I
believe he is always ready to overturn one when he has found a better
one, or one supported by better evidence. His work posses great
value from this fact.
  I acknowledge myself indebted to hini alil his lalinrs, antd while I
often refer to him and d1o) not always assent to his views, it is at all
times with feelings of a high appreciation for his valuable labor-A.
  I desire to express my acknowledgment for inuch valuable assistance
and aid at various stages of miy work rendered by .1. H. Sanders,
Editor of the AV,/tilLh,, -irn-81-k .Jlr,,"rn. The extracts from that
journal included in the first chapter of this work are nuainly froum his
pen and cover the points so nearly as I would have ex1)ressed then,
that it would have lthsked like taking them withlut duie credit to the
author had I done otherwise than as I have. I need hardily say they
embody much careful reflection well expressed.
  To the many gentlemen in all parts of this (-country who have at
ali times furnished me information and afforded me many opportuni-
ties for investigation, T return my sincere and grateful acknowledg-
ments.
  Although the work here presented may contain some errors and
many imperfectionis, I am consoled with the hopjs that it may still
suggest some ideas of value, and lead others to pursue with mmmore
satisfactorv and valuable results the train of studies which have
given me so much gratification.

 










AMERICAN ROADSTERS

                             AND

         TROTTING HORSES.



                     CHAPTER L

               THE BREEDING PROBLEM.
LAWS OF  FREDlITY-SELE(TION-cROSS-BREEDING AND IN-BREEDING-
                 INFLUENCE OF DMVELOPMENT.
  STCIIBREEDING is simply reproduction-the advancement of do-
mestic animals in the scale of valuable qualities-bringing the same
forth in increased numbers and in increased excellence, and thus
making the same more serviceable to the human race in general, and
more remunerative to the producer in particular. This can only be
done by the exercise of that wisdom and intelligent selection of
methods which will enable the breeder to avoid the errors, if any,
in previous efforts, and tol combine, renew and increase the excellen-
cies of that which preceded, in the animals which are to be produced
and employed in the furtherance of the business of reproduction.
Development and progressive advancement constitute the law of
intelligent efforts in the management of the animal creation, which is
subject tot man, the superior.
  The first great principle involved is that of acquirement and trans-
mission. To apply this principle successfully in the production aid
improvement of the breed or qualities of domestic animals involves a
knmowledge and close observation of the LAWS OF EVOLUTION AND
HExawrrr, or the rules which govern in the acquirement of certain
                                                      (9)

 


0THE BREEDING PROBLEM.



qualities or characteristics, either mental or corporeal, psychological or
physical, in one generation, and the transmission of the same to
succeeding generations, and the increase, diminution or other modifica-
tion thereof in the offspring or descendants.
  The process here referred to embraces the operation of two forces,
which appear to be exactly opposite or antagonistic to each other-the
one a conservative force, and the other an aggressive or disturbing
force; or, as it has been well expressed, Heredity, which makes of
every individual the sum or essence or aggregation of that which
has lived before him-which opposes all change, all progress and all
improvement-the other, Evolution, which compels heredity to give
way to internal and external causes, and modifies both the physical
and mental organism, and places in the breeder's hands the means of
effecting desirable and valuable changes.
  Of these, heredity is unquestionably the stronger force, because, as we shall
see, when uniformity has once been established, the general principle that like
produces like finds very rarely an exception. In fact, the influence of heredity
is always present, and in the reproduction of animal life, never fails lo a.,sert
itself, in a greater or saJ degree. Every living thing brings forth young after
its own kind-in some cases the exact counterpart of the parent, and in others
slightly modified; but always showing more or less of the parent type. Men
do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles, neither do Short-horn cows
bring forth buffalo calves, nor draft mares produce thoroughbred race-horses
Hence, although we may frequently meet with very apparent differences be-
tween the parents and the progeny, yet a moment's reflection will show its
that the points of resemblance are always very much greater than those of
difference.
  We are so accustomed to look at the operation of this law in its details, that
we overlook the aggregate of results. We mate a purely-bred Essex sow and
boar, and look upon it as a matter of course that the pigs produiced will all be
black, and possess the general characteristics of the Essex breed; but if,
having selected our breeding pair with a view to the transmission of a
peculiar form of the head or shape of the car, we find in the produce that few,
and possibly none possess the peculiarity which we have sought to perpetu-
ate, we are apt to lose faith in the power of heredity. And yet it would be an
argument against the uniform operation of this law were the product all to
possess the peculiarity which distinguished the sire and danll, for this was an
exceptional feature; and the fact that the pigs possessed, in lieu of this
peculiar mark, the character that belonged to their anc estors. in geneicral, is
rather a testimony to the inherent power of heredity than otherwise. Were
our pair of pure Essex swine to produce Poland-China or Berkshire or York-
shire pigs, there would be room for suspicion, and for complaint that the laws
of heredity had been violated; but such a transgression of Nature's law so
rarely occurs, that when it does tak" place, we may properly call the result a



10

 


LAWS OF HEREDITY.



11



" sport." Hence the failure of an individual to reproduce features that are pecu-
liar to itself, or of a pair of individuals, distingutished for the same peculiarity,
to transmit it to the offspring, should excite no surprise in the mind of the
breeder. Heredity transmits with certainty only what has become a tixed
character in the race. Sports, accidental variations, and individual peculiarities,
only occur in opposition to this law, and their transmission is at best uncer-
tain. Heredity may be depended on to govern the general characteristics
which determine the species, and the less general ones, which distinguish the
breed, but when we come to individual characteristics, which have never
acquired a general character in the ancestry, it frequently fails. In short, the
transmission of the greater share of all the characteristics is a thing of uni-
versal occurrence, but their transmission in toto is an ideal conception that is
never realized; and only in proportion as the ancestry has assumed a fixed
and unvarying type, do we find this ideal of the effect of heredity approxi-
mated.
  That peculiarity called atavism, or reversion, so often noticed in cur
domesticated animals, and which has so frequently set at naught the calcu-
lations of the breeder, has often been quoted as an illustration of the failure of
the law of heredity; but it is, in fact, only a tribute to its power. By selec-
tion, change of climate or of nutrition, or by crossing, or by all of these means
combined, we may succeed in obliterating certain well-delineui characteristics,
and in modifying a given type, until the new form or character that we have
created will, in its turn, be transmitted with reasonable certainty; but suddenly
the germ that has lain dormant for so many generations asserts itself, and,
greatly to our surprise, the characteristics of the original stock will reappear.
These cases of reversion most frequently occur when cross-breeding is resorted
to. The counter currents of hereditary influence, which are by this means
brought into contact, having a common origin, awaken to life the germ which
has for generations been a silent factor in each of the newly-created breeds,
and enables it to again assume control of the organism.
  In addition to the general and well-defined operation of the laws of heredity
to which we have alluded, its operations in the transmission of individual
characteristics, although not clearly defined, and never to be depended upon,
are often wonderful. The son is frequently, in some respects, the exact dupli-
catc of the father, and the daughter of the mother. Sometinmes a peculiarity
which belonged to the grandsire lies dormant in the son, but crops out as
strong as ever in the second or third generation. Again: we find peculiarities
transmitted from father to daughter, and from mother to son, and even
especial sexual characteristics transmitted by the father through a daughter
to a grandson, or by the mother through a son to a granddaughter; but it is
worthy of remark, that in no case are all the peculiarities of any one individ-
ual transmitted. Indeed, it would be strange were it otherwise, because each
individual is the joint product of two other individuals, each endowed
with peculiarities of its own; and that each should transmit itself as an
entirety is absolutely impossible. Neither do we find in the individual so
produced a blending of these peculiarities in exact proportion-as one might
theoretcally argue would be the result were the parents of equally well estabs-

 


2THlE BREEDING PROBLEM.



lisbed types-but rather that in some respects the offspring resembles the
fattier, in others the mother; in sonic forming a partial or exact mean between
the two; and in still others we find the produce utterly unlike either, giving it
all individuality or character of its own. We might illustrate this by
instances frotm the experience of every breeder, but it is not necessary. The
effect has teen observed by all who have given any attention whatever to the
subject of breeding.
  The foregoing extract is taken from a very able and philosophical
article in the National Lire S   .tt-A .Journal, and as this matter of the
certain transmission of acquired qualities, and the fact that such qual-
itiebs can also be and are acquired andi changed as the result o,
judicious selections and training in the hands of the intelligent breeder
and handler lies at the threshold of the subject of breeding trotting
horses, I have deemed it proper to present my readers here with
various extracts both from the same series and other articles in that and
other journals. It is a subject that is worthy of our most careful eos-
sideration.
  Where animals in a state of nature are not disturbed in the enjoyment of the
conditions under which they have existed for ages, as the American bison, or
buffalo, the elk, the deer, the wolf, etc., the uniformity which prevails among
all the individuals of the race is remarkable; and all the peculiarities of
structure, color and character are transmitted from generation to generation
with almost unerring certainty; and here the maxim of the breeder, that ' like
produces like," scarcely ever meets with an exception. Such animals are,
in the truest sense of the word, thoroughbred, or purely bred. There has
been no commingling of blood, or crossing of various strains, to give the race
a composite character, and hence, when we have seen the sire and da3m, we
can tell with certainty what the progeny will be. Were any of our domesti-
cated animals thoroughbred., in the sense that the bison, the elk or the deer
are thoroughbreds, the breeding problem would be a simple one, and like
would produce like as long as the conditions of life remained the same. The
same principle holds true in the reproduction of segetabte life. An absolutely
pure seed reproduces its kind, but when cross fertilization has once taken
place, the result is uncertain. If the flow-r of the Baldwin apple tree be
fertilized by the pollen of a Winesap, the seed from this union will produce
neither the one nor the other. It will be an apple, because both of tsU parents
were apples; but as they were of different varieties, or forms, or character, so
the produce will have a character of its own, differing from both of its ances-
tors. And even if the stigma of the Baldwin be fertilized by pollen of its own
kind, the result is uncertain, because the parent is itselfthe result of cross-fertili-
zation. The application of this principle to the crossing of different races of
domestic animals is evident, and we shall have occasion to refer to it here-
after.
  But, notwithstanding the uniformity of which we have spoken, in the
produce of absolutely pure or unmixed races, there arises occasionally what



12

 


LAWS OF HZREDITY.



13



is termed an accidental variation from the established type-a Ai, as it i3
frequently called. The color of the Armerican deer is of a fixed type, and a
departure from this color is justly regarded as a great curio-ity; yet, a white
deer is occasionally found; and so of other animals in which the color is an
equally well-established characteristic. Man has five fingers on eacth hand
and five toes on each foot, and in this particular the race is unitorui; and yet
a "sport" is occasionally found, where the number of fingers or toes is
increased to six. Wlhen these accidental variations once occur, they are liable,
under favorable conditions, to be transmitted by inheritance; bet under the
ordinary operations of Nature's laws, when the conditions of life remain un-
changed, these anomalies usually disappear within one or two generations,
and the normal and charaeteristic type of the race isre-;sumied. Awell-authen-
ticated instance of the transmnission of accidental variations is found in the
oft-quoted case of Edward Lambert, whose whole bodly, with the exception of
the face, the soles of the feet, and the palmns of the hands, was covered with a
sort of horny excrescence, which was periodically nioulted. His six sons all
inherited the same peculiarity, and the only one of the six that surv-ived trans-
mitted it, in turn, to all his sons. This abnormal character was transmitted
through the male line for six generations, and then disappeared. We have
also several well-authenticated cases of the transmission, for a few generations,
of an abnormal number of fingers or toes; as in the case of the Colburn family
where each of the members had a supernumerary toe and finger, which
anomaly was transmitted, although irregularly, for four generations before it
entirely disappeared. The writer is personally cognizant of a case in which
the second and third toe of each foot were united, and which anomaly has
been transmitted for three generations to one only, out of an average of eight
descendants in each family. But, as before remarked, when the conditions of
life remain unchanged, these anomalies almost invariably disappear, and the
descendants resume the typical character of the race.
  From the fact that these accidental variations have shown themselves to be,
in a limited degree, transmissible by heredity, we ma-y infer that if selections
were made with a view to their perpetuation, they might ultimately become
fixed characters-but of this more hereafter. Indeed, there is a considerable
weight of evidence tending to show that even variations produced by mutila-
tion, or by other artificial means, are sometimes transmitted, especially when
the mutilation has been intimately connected with the nervous system. Dr.
Prosper Lucas gives numerous well-authenticated instances of this character,
and is decidedly of the opinion that variations or mutilations that are the
result of disease, are transmissible. That eminent scientist, Dr. Brown-
Sequard, gives an interesting account of some experiments with guinea pigs.
By an operation upon a certain nerve, he produced epileptic convulsions, and
the produce of the animals upon which this operation was performed mani-
fested the same symptoms. But notwithstanding the numerous instances
given by the eminent authorities above quoted, we are of the opinion that the
cases of the transmission of these artificially produced variations are so rare
as to be practically of no account in the calculation of the breeder.
  The law which governs the tranmission of thes  accidental variations,

 


THE BRELEDING PROBLEYM.



whether they be the result of a " sport" or of external inflnences, appears to
be, that when such variations from the common type are in antagonism to the
conditions of life to which the indiVidual is subjectld, the variations are not
perpetuated; while, on the otilr hbasd, if they are in confonuity to the exist-
ing wants or conditions, add natural selection, and a survival of the fittest will
tend to perpetuate them.
  From the foregoing it is evident that the laws of heredity tend to reproduce
in the progeny the character of the ancestors; and that when the ancestry is
of a fixed and uniform type, the maxim that " like produces like " admits of
few exceptions. Yet there are exceptions even here, as we have seen in
the case of sports; and the modifications produced by changed conditions of
life, adaptation to new uses, and new modes of subsistence, tend to vary what,
tunder the operation of the unrestricted laws of heredity, would fix a given
type, and leave the breeder's art powerless to effect change or improvement.
  As to the results to be attained from the employment for breeding
purposes, of animals that from accident or unaccountable cause exhibit
marked peculiarities, either physical or mental, or when they possess
great excellencies or great and serious defects or vices, the following
principles and facts taken from an able article in the same journal,
and written by a medical gentleman, are expressed in terms both
instructive and entertaining:
  Where two races of men, or species of animals, are crossed, the superior
race or species generally predominates. The same rile holds with regard to
crosses of the same race or species; the superior blood taking precedence ove