MYBKlDISATIoN. JiO 



luul of the Common Trout ; whirli could l)c done witli {^rciitcr 

 liicility tliiiii the other, iVom tlic fact that the two species arc 

 constantly found naturally co-existent in the same waters. 



Shoulil any of these experiments rcNult in the production of 

 hybrids, another intcrcstiu}^ (piestion would arise, as to whether 

 the males thus produei-d should l)e aj^'ain eajtahle of ri-produeinj; 

 their own species. Should this bi-the case, it would ;;o verv far 

 toward the breaking up the whole theory of distinct species of 

 this family, and provinij them to be merely aeeidental \aricties, 

 casually produced at first, and having become, in process of 

 generations, capable of transmitting their own peculiar type to 

 their progeny — as is the case clearly with the various breeds of 

 dogs, horses, cattle, and other domestic aninuds, which, so long 

 as they are prescned unmixed, will produei- like of like, l)ut 

 which, if interbred \\i{\\ other close-kindred races, will produce 

 a mongrel, but not a hybrid — one, I nuaii, wlueh is capable of 

 reproduction. 



Thus Shetland ponies breeding together will produce Slietland 

 ponies; and blood-liorses of the Arab stock, blood-horses. 



Intermix tliese, and you shall have a cross-bred olfspring, 

 which is not, however, a hybrid, like the produce of a horse and 

 an ass; for it is capable of breeding again, with its own type, or 

 with either of the parent races, or with any other pure horse. 



And so of liounds, setters, greyhounds, and all the varieties 

 of domestic dogs, so long as they are interbred among them- 

 selves ; but the moment they are associati-d with the wolf, fox, 

 jackal, dingo, or any of the congenerous though distinct races, 

 they will l)rccd with them, it i** true, but the progeny «ill be 

 trulv hvbrid and barn'u. 



