94' BOARD OF AGEICULTUEE. 



respect they both follow the female parents, the mule being in all 

 respects a larger and finer animal than its sire, the ass ; the hinny 

 being in all respects a smaller and inferior animal to its sire, the 

 horse, the body and barrel of the mule being large and round, those 

 of the hinny being flat and narrow ; both animals being in these 

 particulars the reverse of their respective sires, but both resembling 

 their female parents. 



In explanation of this seeming exception is adduced a well known 

 principle in physiology, which is, that the whole bony framework 

 is moulded in adaptation to the softer structures immediately re- 

 lated to it ; the muscles covering it in the case of the limbs ; and 

 to the viscera in that of the great cavities which it assists in form- 

 ing. Accordingly, in perfect accordance with the views above 

 expressed, the general size and form which must be mainly that of 

 the trunk, will be determined by the size and character of the 

 viscera of the chest and abdomen, and will therefore accord with 

 that of the female parents by whom the viscera in question are 

 chiefly furnished. 



The foregoing are the most-important of Mr. Orton's statements. 

 He gives, however, numerous additional illustrations from among 

 beasts, birds and fishes, of which we quote only the following : 



" The mule and the hinny have been selected and placed first, 

 because they afford the most conclusive evidence and are the most 

 familiar. Equally conclusive, though perhaps less striking instan- 

 ces, may be drawn from other sources. Thus, it has been observed 

 that when the Ancon or Otter sheep were allowed to breed with 

 common ewes, the cross is not a medium between the two breeds, 

 but that the offspring retains in a great measure the short and 

 twisted legs of the sire. 



Buffon made a cross between the male goat and the ewe ; the 

 resulting hybrid in all the instances, which were many, were 

 stronglj^ characteristic of the male parent, more particularly in the 

 hair and length of log. Curious enough, the number of teats in 

 some of the cases corresponded with those of the goat. 



A cross between the male wolf and a bitch illustrates the same 

 law ; the offspring having a markedly wolfish aspect : skin, color, 

 ears and tail. On the other hand, a cross between the dog and 

 female wolf afforded animals much more dog-like in aspect — 

 slouched ears and even pied in color. If you look at the descrip- 

 tions and illustrations of these two hybrids, you will perceive at a 



