224 SELECTION. Chap. XXI. 



strong a tendency to vary as is generally supposed, because 

 many species long grown in botanic gardens, or unintention- 

 ally cultivated year after year mingled with our corn crops, 

 have not produced distinct races ; but this is accounted for 

 by slight variations not having been selected and 23ropagated. 

 Let a plant which is now grown in a botanic garden, or any 

 common weed, be cultivated on a large scale, and let a sharp- 

 sighted gardener look out for each slight variety and sow the 

 seed, and then, if distinct races are not produced, the argument 

 will be valid. 



The importance of selection is likewise shown by consider- 

 ing special characters. For instance, with most breeds of 

 fowls the form of the comb and the colour of the plumage 

 have been attended to, and are eminently characteristic of 

 each race ; but in Dorkings, fashion has never demanded 

 uniformity of comb or colour ; and the utmost diversity in 

 these respects j)revails. Eose-combs, double-combs, cup-combs, 

 &c., and colours of all kinds, may be seen in purely bred and 

 closely related Dorking fowls, whilst other points, such as 

 the general form of body, and the presence of an additional 

 toe, have been attended to, and are invariably present. It 

 has also been ascertained that colour can be fixed in this 

 breed, as well as in any other.^* 



During the formation or improvement of a breed, its 

 members will always be found to vary much in those 

 characters to which especial attention is directed, and of 

 which each slight improvement is eagerly s ;ught and selected. 

 Thus, with short-faced tumbler-pigeons, the shoitness of the 

 beak, shape of head and plumage, — with carriers, the length 

 of the beak and wattle, — with fantails, the tail and carriage, 

 — with Spanish fowls, the white face and comb, — with long- 

 eared rabbits, the length of ear, are all points which are 

 eminently variable. So it is in every case ; and the large 

 price paid for first-rate animals proves the difSculty of breed- 

 ing them up to the highest standard of excellence. This 

 subject has been discussed by fanciers,^^ and the greater 



'^ Mr. Baily, in 'The Poultry Chro- •" < Cottage Gardener,' 1855, De- 



nicie,' vol. ii., 1854:, p. 150. Also ceniber, p. 171; 1856, Janaary, pp. 

 vol. i. p. 342 ; vol. iii. p. 245. 248, 323. 



