The original of the engraving which heads this article has all the crouching look of the fox, with many of the wild habits of that animal. Mr. Hewer tells me that up to six or eight months old she would hiss and spit like a kitten, but has quite lost that peculiarity now. She still often disappears into the adjacent coverts for a day or two, after which hunger compels her return. She has bred a litter by a terrier, but has not been put to one of her own cross, which is necessary to be done before Mr. Tomlin's assertion is to be accepted, that the individuals of the dog and fox cross will breed inter se. And this being the only proof of a distinction of species which is now recognised, until the experiment is carried out successfully we are not in a position to admit that the dog and fox belong to the same species. CHAPTER I. BREEDING. Principles of Breeding.-Axioms for the Breeder's Use.-Crossing and crossed Breeds.-Importance of Health in both Sire and Dam.-Best Ages to breed from. - In-and-in Breeding. Best Time of Year.-Duration of Heat. Management of the Bitch in Season.-The Bitch in Whelp.-Preparations for Whelping.-Healthy Parturition.-Destruction or Choice of Whelps at Birth. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. THE principles upon which the breeding of the dog should be conducted are generally in accordance with those necessary for the production of other domestic animals of the class Mammalia, remembering always that it is not reliable to argue from one class of animals to another, because their habits and modes of propagation vary so much as to interfere with the analogy. Thus as the pigeon, in common with other birds, does not rear her young with the produce of her own body to the same comparative size as most of the individuals of the class Mammalia, the mother has not so much more to do with the process than the father as is the case with the bitch, mare, and cow, &c., where the quantity and quality of the milk are to be taken into the calculation. Hence, in selecting a sire and dam for breeding purposes among dogs, the |