1793: on varieties of domestic animals. + 166 
proved, and considerable alterations be made in the 
fhape, appearance, and other peculiarities of the fheep> 
without the smallest alteration of the parent breed? 
or intermixture with others. In this way lefser va~ 
riations may be produced, which may constitute a 
kind of artificial varieties of fheep. And it is pro- 
bable, that this circumstance being observed has giv- 
en rise to Buffon’s notion, that a// the varieties we 
perceive in thé same species must have been obtained 
in time from one individual. But it deserves here 
to be well remarked, that ‘variations of this sort, ne- 
ver could have taken place zm a state of nature, so as 
to produce any thing like a general change. In re- 
gard to this particular we may truly say, that ‘ all 
is the gift of industry ;” for without the fostering 
hand of man, the blefsing which heaven intended for 
him would have been lost. The distinguifhed particular 
would have been suffered to die with the individual, 
as its peculiarities would immediately have been 
blended promiscuously in the general mafs.* 
* Should it ever happen, that the beaver fhall come under the 
power of man, it is not impofsible, but the fur of that animal might, 
by attention and selection, be greatly meliorated. In its present state 
there are many long and stiff hairs, interspersed through the fine soft 
fur of that animal, which must be separated from that fur, before it 
can be applied to any use. This isa very troublesome operation, and 
the best méthod that has hitherto been adopted for effecting this, is to 
allow the Indians to wear these furs as garments, until the stiff hairs, 
which loosen hefore the fine fur, gradually disappear; by this procef, 
the fine fur is nrach worn also. But were men enabled to select 
such beavers for breeding apart, as chanced to have lefs of this hairy 
in their fleece than usual, it would gradually become thinner, and by 
the same care continued, might ia time perhaps entirely disappear. 
But the beaver seems to be too thy an animal to afford any probability 
VOL. xvil, x t 
