EFFECT OF NATURAL SELECTION 



89 



Our selection begins, therefore, where natural selection leaves 

 off, and it aims to secure also the development of some part or 

 faculty that is of special value to us. For example, nature would 

 develop a sharp horn in cattle and perfect the instinct to hide 

 the young at birth, 1 but it would not develop the milking process 

 to a very high degree for the reason that almost any cow in a 

 state of nature could give enough milk to satisfy her calf. 



1 -. •> 



Fig. 12. Old Dick, now fifty-six years old 



Natural selection develops the speed and endurance of horses, 

 as also, very likely, their vision and the quality of the hoof, but 

 it does not develop the size we need for draft purposes, nor 

 bring out the action nor the teachableness we desire for driv- 

 ing purposes. 



The agility of sheep and goats is rather overdeveloped in 

 nature for our purposes, but the fineness of the fleece and length 



1 Every farmer boy knows that the cow will hide her calf, and if conditions 

 are at all favorable, it will take a good hunt to find it. 



