1C)6 account of the fat rumpedjheep. Aug. X4. 

 race of dogs in Persia a.jd India, without either hair 

 or tail ; next he points out defective breeds of fowls ; 

 and lastly, a race of cats at Amboyna, with fhort 

 stumpy tails, as if docked by art, like coach 

 horses in Britain some years ago*. 



* Here we must again regret that Dr Pallas's observations on this 

 very curious subject fliould not have been pursued at full length, as this 

 is a disquisition of the utmost importance in domestic economics; for 

 if valuable peculiarities among animals, which come at first from 

 accidental circumstances that cannot be accounted for, are capable 

 of being perpetuated through the breed by procreation, it gives a 

 range to amendment, and a stimulus to attention in domestic eco- 

 nomy, that may be in time productive of wonderful improvements. 

 Though such disquisitions therefore appear at first sight matters of 

 mere curiosity, this ought not to discourage the inquirer ; for these 

 inquiries may lead to very useful consequences. Fiom these conside- 

 rations a few facts on this subject that have come to my own know- 

 ledge fhall here be stated. 



That certain peculiarities both of mind and body, are in a certain 

 degree hereditary even in the human species there can be no doubt, 

 not to mention some diseases universally allowed to be so, and che 

 acknowledged similarity which usually prevails among the individu- 

 als of the same family, called a family likenefs. It is equally well 

 known, that certain families have been distinguifhed for a peculiar 

 cast of mind, or bent of genius, for ages in succefsion. The permanen- 

 cy of the breeds of dogs, cats, cows, and horses, fowls, and other do- 

 mestic animals, when not adulterated by intermixture with others, 

 is also notorious. 



This seems to be indeed so universally the case, that we account it 

 perfectly natural. But instances like those that Dr Pallas mentions, of 

 peculiarities which were known to be at first accidental only to the 

 individual, being propagated through the progeny, have been seldomer 

 observed, and have not much attracted the attention of mankind ; yet, 

 by a careful attention it will probably be found that this happens of- 

 tener than is usually iftiagined. 



A cat, now in the pofsefsion of one of the profefsors in the universi- 

 ty of Edinburgh, was, when young, ptifectly complete in all its parts, 

 but by accident lost its tail by some violent stroke ; this aniaial has 



