SPECIES AND BREEDS. 147 



ences aaiong animals to natural influences, it 

 would seem, that, while a certain freedom of 

 development is left, within the limits of which 

 man can exercise his intelligence and his inge- 

 nuity, not even this superficial influence is allowed 

 to physical conditions unaided by some guiding 

 power, since, in their normal state, the wild Species 

 remain, so far as we have been able to discover, 

 entirely unchanged, maintained, it is true, in 

 their integrity by the circumstances established for 

 their support, but never altered by them. Nature 

 holds inviolable the stamp that God has set upon 

 his creatures ; and if man is able to influence 

 their organization in some slight degree, it is 

 because the Creator has given to his relations 

 with the animals he has intended for his com- 

 panions the same plasticity which he has allowed 

 to every other side of his life, in virtue of which 

 he may in some sort mould and shape it to his 

 own ends, and be held responsible also for its 

 results. 



The common sense of a civilized community 

 has already pointed out the true distinction, in 

 applying another word to the discrimination of 

 the different kinds of domesticated animals. 

 They are called Breeds, and Breeds among ani- 

 mals are the work of man : Species were created 

 by God. 



