'breaks-down,' may be passed over; the latter, however, only when the stock from which the mare is descended are famous for standing their work without this frailty of sinew and ligament. Spavins, ringbones, large splents, side-bones, and, in fact, all bony enlargements, are constitutional defects, and will be almost sure to be perpetuated, more or less, according to the degree in which they exist in the particular case. Curby hocks are also hereditary, and should be avoided; though many a one, much bent at the junction of the os calcis and astragalus, is not at all liable to curbs. It is the defective condition of the ligaments there, not the angular junction, which leads to curbs; and the breeder should carefully investigate the individual case before accepting or rejecting a mare with suspicious hocks. Bad feet, whether from contraction or from too flat and thin a sole, should be avoided; but when they have obviously arisen from bad shoeing, the defect may be passed over. Such are the general considerations bearing upon soundness of limb.
"Broken-winded mares seldom breed, and they are therefore out of the question, if for no other reason; but no one would risk the recurrence, even if he could get such a mare stinted. Roaring is a much-vexed question, which is by no means theoretically settled among our chief veterinary authorities, nor practically by our breeders. Every year, however, it becomes more and more frequent and important, and the risk of reproduction is too great for any person wilfully to run, by breeding from a roarer. As far as I can learn, it appears to be much more hereditary on the side of the mare than on that of the horse; and not even the offer of a "Virago" should tempt me to use her as a brood-mare. There are so many conditions of what is termed "roaring," that it is difficult to form any opinion that shall apply to all cases. In some
