Praeterra genus humanum, mutasque natantes,
Squammigerüm pecudes, et laeta armenta, ferasque,
Et varise volucres, laetantia quae loca aquarum
Concelebrant, circum ripas fonteisque lacusque,
E t quae pervolgant nemora avia pervolitantes;
Horum unurU quödvis generatim sumere perge;
Invenies tamen inter Se distare figuris.
Nec ratione alia proles cognoscere matrem,
Nec mater possit prolem ; quod posse videmus,
Nec minus, atque homines, inter se nota duere,
And again he appliès the same observation to other departments
of nature.
Postremo quodvis frumentum, non tamen omne
Quodque in suo genere inter se simile esse videbis,
Quin intercurrat quaedam distantia formis.
Conch arum que genus simiE ratione videmus
Pingere telluris gremium qua mollibus undis
Littoris incurvi bibulam pavit aequor arenam.
The variety in form, prevalent among all organized productions
of nature, is found to subsist between individual beings
of whatever species, even when they are the offspring of the
same parents. Another circumstance equally remarkable is
the tendency which exists in almost every tribe, whether of
animals or of plants, to transmit to their offspring, and to
perpetuate in their race all individual peculiarities which may
thus have taken their rise. These two genéralfacts in the
economy of organized beings lay a foundation for the existence
of diversified races, originating from the same primitive
stock and within the limits of identical species ; and by noticing
the phenomena which associate themselves with both
of these principles, we appear to make some progress towards
an explanation of the varieties which distinguish from each
other different races of men. But there is a question which
remains to be answered, and that one of no very èasy solution,
before we can détermine to regard this or that instance
of diversity as an example referribleto variety thus originating
and perpetuated. This question is, what is the extent of deviation
in structure, or what are the limits within which it is
restricted. That there are such limits can hardly be ques-i
tioned, since without these, one species would be fo r ever
passing into another—nd tribes of animals or c f plants would
b e defined and characterised and like only to itself. Even
those physiologistsWhoi cöritëjud lfor what is termed the
indefinite nature* of>5>species, admit that they have limits
at present and under ordinary circütnstances. Whatever diversities
take place happen -wf^hpathreaking in ppön the cha-
racteristic ty p e of the species. This'is transmitted from ge-
neration to generation: goats prod'ue^bSft^fknd' shëêpl sheep.
B fife the new charactersöf organization, which spring up as
it Were casually ih thé 'bïtéd^ahd^whMl^'bWing^'tb’' ouf ignorance
of thedèircumstanèês^of 'the4rlris‘ë^a*ib termed accidental
Varieties, are transmitted perhaps w ith # i|u a l Constancy.
These'remarks will be* illustrated* by ah abcbuntof
some particular instances of variety in strticftfiè, ‘ fepiirigi-ng
up for the Arst time in races of men .and of anhdals, and per-
petuatédhy hereditary transmission. -
A 1 singular Variety of sheep has appeared within a few
years 'in‘ New England, which furnishes ati èxaffiplé^ of *thé
The first' a n c e s t o r t h i s
breed wafea male lamb, prödüèed by an ewe1 of the common
description. This lamb was h f singular- êtrhctur^^hnd'hts
offspring in many instances^ had the same characters with
self. The'së'were shortness of the limbs, and>gtéateT length
•dftthe body,' in proportion; whênbe thiëWcè* of animals- has
been termed the ottër ' breed. The joints also were' lotfge^
and their fore legs crookedt It. has been found advantageous
to propagate this variety, because the animal is unable tb
jump over fences. The following fabts- sebnn conclusive as to
the permanency of the breed, and are very remarkable. ^
; I When both parents are of the otter breedj their descendants
inherit the peculiar appearance and' proportions of form.
I have heard but of one questionable base of a contrary nature.”
1 « When an otter ewe is impregnated by a common ram,
the increase resembles, wholly, either the, ewe ^ | ’ the ram.
The. increase of a common ewe, impregnated by a ram of the
new breed, follows entirely thë one or the other, without
blending any of the distinguishing and essential peculiarities
of both.
r 2 ,