GENETIC TYPE AND THE ENDOCBINES 137 



THE EXTREMITIES IN THE HYBRIDS BETWEEN THE PEKINGESE 



AND SALTJKI 



We have shown that the short achondroplasic extremities 

 of the bassethound and the dachshund are inherited in identi- 

 cal fashion when crossed with a number of normal long- 

 legged European dog breeds, and it would seem that the 

 genetic basis for this distorted growth is the same in both 

 cases. It was further desired, however, to secure an achon- 

 droplasic breed of unquestionably different origin from either 

 of the above two in order to learn whether the short leg 

 character would always react in its inheritance in the same 

 way. We felt such evidence might help to determine whether 

 an independent identical mutation giving rise to the same 

 deformity of the extremities had occurred independently in 

 several breeds. There is also the further point of interest 

 in that this short leg distortion frequently occurs in widely 

 different species, and its genetic behavior in these may some 

 day demand study. The final question for future approach 

 is whether the same chemical change in the genie complex 

 of the germ cells in these widely different animals produces 

 the same growth modifications in the development of their 

 extremities. 



The Pekingese dog, which is a very ancient Chinese breed, 

 has short, bent achondroplasic extremities, as well as achon- 

 droplasia of the skull. This latter condition need not interest 

 us here. This dog is probably the most completely perfect 

 achondroplasic dwarf to be found among the many breeds 

 and we shall consider its nature from several standpoints 

 and in connection with other problems. The Saluki dog of 

 Egypt and Asia Minor is one of the most ancient of present 

 day breeds. It is very tall and slender and greyhound-like 

 in type, as we have already called to attention in connection 

 with its cross on the bassethound. No two dogs could be 

 much more widely different in type than are the Pekingese 

 and the Saluki. 



We have had the good fortune to successfully mate a 

 Saluki bitch to a Pekingese male. The bitch whelped two F t 



