420 + on varieties of domestic fiieralias oe ty 
obvious peculiarities of plants, which affect those di 
versities that have been called warzeties, they may 
have in like manner overlooked other peculiarities 
that may occasion striking diversities among ani- 
mals, which have been called varieties : and as this 
subject has never yet been thoroughly investigated, 
it behooves us to be cautious in admitting general 
conclusions. 
With regard to dogs, which as being well known 
to every one, are a fit object for illustration, we, 
see, that let a small lap dog, and a large mastiff 
be fed with the same food and tended with the same 
care, the one discovers no symptoms of increasing in 
size or diminifhing it more than the other. Let them 
be carried from one country to another, they e- 
qually preserve their original distinctive qualities, 
without any fartler change than the climate may 
perhaps produce; which equally seems to affect all the 
varieties of this animal. Never was there adopted 
an hypothesis more truly absurd than that of 
Buffon in this respect. Nor was there ever made 
such 4 barefaced attempt to try how far the credu- 
lity of mankind could lead them astray in deference to 
a great name, in direct contradiction to facts which 
fall immediately under the cognisance of every man 
who pleases but fo open his eyes, and look right before 
him, as in those bold and unfounded afsertions which 
he has ben pleased to make, with regard to the trans 
formation of dogs, from one variety into another. 
Yet these opinions have been inadvertantly transcribe 
ed many times by ‘learned naturalists, without one 
symptom of doubt or hesitation, - 
