Page:The Evolution of British Cattle.djvu/109

 case could be imagined. If one or more white Shorthorn bulls were put to a herd of red North Devon cows, their progeny would all be roans. At the same time, they would be intermediate between their parents in size, as well, perhaps, as in some other things which we may neglect for the present. If those roan crosses were bred together, 25 per cent, of their progeny would be white, 50 per cent, roan, and 25 per cent. red. At the same time, 25 per cent, of the whole would be Shorthorns in size, 25 per cent. Devons, and 50 per cent, intermediates. But, as the chances are absolutely against both colour and size varying together, there are reds, whites, and roans among the cattle of Shorthorn size, and reds, whites, and roans among those of Devon size. The white-coloured cattle of Devon size are white Devons, from which any number of white Devons might be produced, and by the use of such cattle the whole red Devon breed could be made white in not so very many generations.

There are, however, hybrids which are not obvious intermediates, but which masquerade in the guise of one of their parents. The progeny of black and red cattle are black, yet they are hybrids nevertheless. When these masquerading hybrids are bred together, a quarter of their progeny are red, like one of their grandparents, and three quarters are black, like the other, but of the black ones only a third are genuinely black;