CHAPTER X.

THE CROSSING AND CLOSE-INTERBREEDING OF HORSES, SHEEP AND Cattle.

It has been shown, that, with Fowls and Pigeons, the multiplicity of divergent varieties, observable in either of these species, involves great disproportionate development of the individual; and, comformably to the theory adduced in this work, it has been found, by reference to the phenomena recorded by Darwin, that such individuals are peculiarly susceptible to the evils occasioned by interbreeding.

With the Pig, although there is no or very little divergence of character, a failure in proportion of the characters, has been caused, by a process of degeneration, persisted in by Man, through a very mistaken sense of policy. It has, likewise, been shown by Darwin's facts, that very great evil results from the reduction of the characters of the Pig.

It is now designed to show, that with those species, under domestication, whose individuals approximate the true type of their respective species, there is an almost complete exemption from the evils of lessened fertility, and of lessened constitutional vigor, however long and closely, the individuals may be interbred. It must be remembered, that it is not necessary to show

a total absence of evil; for, even individuals of the same family, differ, in some degree, from each other; and, that necessarily implies, that all but one of the individuals, are measurably degenerate.

The true ratio of the development of the characters of a species, or due coördination, is realized more in the Horse, in the Cow, and in the Sheep, than in any other animals upon which man has bestowed any degree of care. Though the individuals, of each of these species, may lack one or more of the characters of their respective species, and may vary, to some extent, the just relation of their parts; they are, comparatively, proportionately developed. With them, there is no such. division of features, among the different varieties, as is met with, in the case of the Pigeon and of the Fowl. Neither, is there such a reduction and suppression of parts, as are observed in the Pig.

With Cattle, with Sheep, and with Horses, all of the characters, of the respective species, are retained, in each of the varieties. True it is, especial care may be given, in each of several varieties, to some one excellence; and, the true proportion may be thus, in some degree, affected; yet, such proportion is not much altered, because, together with the special feature, the other parts are suffered to develop themselves:—to which development accidental circumstances often contribute, such as the exercise which the animals are permitted, and the degree of self-feeding, to which they are accustomed. This concurrent bringing-up of all the characters, in each individual, has precluded that divergence of character, which is so observable, in Pigeons

and Fowls, and, which is so prolific of evil, by reason of its entailing, in each individual or variety, the absence of the important, positive peculiarities of others of the same species.

The fact, of individuals of each of the Horse, Sheep, and Cow species, falling thus so little short of the original type of their respective species, leads to the expectation, that little, or no evil is the outcome of their interbreeding. This expectation, with respect to Cattle, and to Sheep, is amply fulfilled by Darwin's facts.

With respect to the Horse, it may be said, that it is, manifestly, of all animals, the most proportionately developed. Race-horses, and dray-horses, are very distinct; but very distinct, only, for breeds of Horses. What constitutes a great difference, between breeds of Horses, is, compared with the differences between breeds of other species, a very slight distinction. In the Horse, all or nearly all of the characters maintain. the true relation. The theory of reversion, then, requires, that the facts should show the possibility of the highly-bred animals, of this species, being long and closely interbred, with impunity. It would be an occasion of surprise, if the horse was not a most striking instance, of exemption from the injurious results of this process.

Yet, strange to relate, there is, notwithstanding the fact that the evidence, obtainable upon this subject, is both most abundant and widespread, a remarkable absence, in Darwin's works, of all mention of the experience of breeders, respecting the crossing and the

interbreeding of Horses. Could it have been,-what there is so much throughout his books, to warrant one in suspecting,-that Darwin guessed the true secret of the in-and-in breeding process, and feared lest, if he noted the Horse's exemption from the evil results, the current conception of symmetry, which attaches, peculiarly, to the Horse, would evoke the truth, namely, that the proportionate development of the characters of a species, is the sine qua non of perfect physiological condition?

The stipulation, with which we started,-viz., that both the Refutation and the Converse Theory, would be based exclusively upon Darwin's facts,-precludes any detailed reference to the evidence, showing how the Horse does withstand in-and-in breeding. It is a matter of such common notoriety, however, that, possibly, any such evidence which Darwin might have furnished, would be esteemed by the reader, as needless, furnished as the reader now has been with the light afforded by the idea of Reversion.

With respect to Cattle, and to Sheep, Darwin says (p. 146, Vol. ii, Animals and Plants, &c.):

"WITH CATTLE, THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT, THAT

EXTREMELY CLOSE-INTERBREEDING MAY BE LONG CAR

RIED ON; advantageously, with respect to external characters, and with no manifestly apparent evil, as far as constitution is concerned. THE SAME REMARK IS APPLICABLE TO Sheep.

"Whether these animals have gradually been rendered less susceptible, than others, to this evil, in order to permit them to live in herds,-a habit which leads the old and vigorous leaders to expel all intruders,

and, in consequence, often to pair with their own daughters, I will not pretend to decide." (!)

How coolly, Design is here invoked, to extricate this brilliant disciple of Bacon, from the quandary he is now in. When our heterodox friends fancy, that some secondary law which they have discovered, or some apology therefor, which they have deftly devised, contravenes the doctrine of Final Causes, they take care to acquaint the world, in tones of dignified severity, that they esteem such doctrine, a monster of most frightful mien, born of the distempered imaginations of the superstitious; but, when this principle,-so much abused in the houses, both of its friends and of its foes, will alone, they conceive, subserve the purpose of patching up their ragged, and flimsy theories, with what charming suavity, they court and embrace it! We believe in the doctrine,-not in such an application, as is above made of it however; but, we do not deem ourselves bound therefore to believe every absurdity which is adduced in evidence thereof. It is ignorance alone, which holds itself constrained to fall back upon the doctrine of Final Causes. There is, never, need to invoke the doctrine, to solve any difficulty. For, wherever its operation, in any instance, may be definitively settled; there are always secondary laws which wholly preclude the necessity of any reference to it. Where such secondary laws are not positively known to subserve it, however proper it may be to admit it as an element of moral evidence, it has no title to admission within the domain of positive science. So, in either contingency,