238 | on varieties of domestic animals. _ Oct. 16; 
diversity of kinds. And though after they come under 
the power of man, he may produce certaia lefser va- 
riations, that may be deemed a kind of varieties ; 
yet as these his artificial productions, are never any 
thing else than either small modifications. of a par- 
ticular breed, which still retains its general qua- 
lities distinct, or an evident compound of two kinds 
already known, we may in general conclude: that as 
certain breeds of sheep, we will say, which are placéd 
at a great distance from each other, and distinguifhable 
by very striking peculiarities, are to be found in si- 
tuations where the hand of man can scarcely be sup- 
posed ever to have had a preceptible fhare in altering 
them by culture, there have been originally aconsider- 
able number of varieties of this useful species of ani- 
mal, which were endowed with different qualities, in- 
stincts, powers, and propensities; and that it behoves 
us now to ascertain, by careful observation, and ace 
curate experiment, the distinguifhable peculiarities of 
each variety, if ever we hope to draw the utmost pofsi- 
ble benefit from the rearing of it. . 
The p actical inferences from the whole of this 
investigation then are: That there are to be found 
dispersed over this globe, many varieties of every 
species of useful domestic animal : that the particular 
distinguifhing peculiarities of each cannot be known, 
until they fhall have all been examined by persons 
of fkill ; and accurate comparative trials made, to as- 
certain all these peculiarities : we can never therefore 
say that we have reached nearly the ultimate per- 
fection that this department in economics is natural- 
ly susceptible of, till this thall first have been done. — 
