270 Dr Morton on Hybrid Animals and Plants. 



Cameline Hybrids. — The two species of camel, C. bactria- 

 mis and C, dromedarius, produce with each other an interme- 

 diate offspring, which is said to be fertile without limit. Buf- 

 fon could not deny this proverbial fact ; and in order to ob- 

 viate a difficulty that conflicted with a favourite opinion, he 

 assumed that these animals must be mere varieties of a single 

 species. Modern science, however, has established, beyond 

 question, the specific difference of the camel and the drome- 

 dary.* 



Canine Hybrids. — If we could admit that all the dogs, with 

 their varied external forms and peculiar instincts, have been 

 derived from a single pair of these animals, we could have 

 no difficulty, I conceive, in adopting so much of Lamarck's 

 theory as relates to the progressive transmutation of species, 

 resulting from what he calls the force of external circum- 

 stances ; and it is curious to observe that he especially ad- 

 duces the canine race in support of his hypothesis. " In na- 

 ture we seek in vain for mastiffs, harriers, spaniels, grey- 

 hounds, and other races between which the differences are 

 so great that they would be readily admitted as specific among 

 wild animals ; yet all these have sprung originally from a 

 single race, at first approaching very near to a wolf ; if, in- 

 deed, the wolf be not the true type which at some period or 

 other was domesticated by man."t 



He further maintains that the peculiar instincts and func- 

 tions of animals, — the dogs for example, — have not resulted 

 from a previous and pre-adapted organization ; but that these 

 instincts, on the contrary, have developed, by constant use, 

 those very organs of which they are the seat. The grey- 

 hound, for example, has derived his long and slender legs, 

 and his proverbial speed, from the mere habit of running 

 with celerity in pursuing some animals and in escaping from 

 others. The mastiff' again has become large, . strong, and 

 muscular, from habitually seizing and holding animals larger 

 and stronger than himself. In fine, Lamarck applies the 

 same principle to all organized beings, which, according to 



* Cuvier, Regne Animal, vol. i., p. 187. 



t See Lyell's Principles of Geology, B. III., chap. 1, &c. 



