144 THE HISTORY OF CREATION. 



an entirely distinct "good species," but even as species of 

 entirely different genera of the Leporid family. Not only 

 does the colour, length of hair, and other qualities of the fur 

 of the different tame races of rabbits vary exceedingly, and 

 form extremely broad contrasts, but, what is still more im- 

 portant, the typical form of the skeleton and its individual 

 parts do so also, especially the form of the skull and the 

 jaw (which is of such importance in systematic arrange- 

 ment) ; further, the relative proportion of the length of the 

 ears, legs, etc. In all these respects the races of tame rabbits 

 avowedly differ from one another far more than all the dif- 

 ferent forms of wild rabbits and hares which are scattered 

 over all the earth, and are the recognized " good species " of 

 the genus Lepus, And yet, in the face of these clear facts, the 

 opponents of the theory of development maintain that the 

 wild species are not descended from a common prototype, 

 although they at once admit it in the case of the tame 

 races. With opponents who so intentionally close their 

 eyes against the clear light of truth, no further dispute can 

 be carried on. 



While in this manner it aj)pears certain that the domestic 

 races of pigeons, of tame rabbits, of horses, etc., notwith- 

 standing the remarkable difference of their varieties, are 

 descended in each case from but one wild, so-called 

 " species " ; yet, on the other hand, it is certainly probable 

 that the great variety of races of some of the domestic ani- 

 mals, especially dogs, pigs, and oxen, must be ascribed to 

 the existence of several wild prototypes, which have become 

 mixed. It is, however, to be observed that the number of 

 these originally wild primary species is always much 

 smaller than that of the cultivated forms proceeding from 



