HEREDITY OF NORMAL CHARACTERS. 13 



same in the various species, while the disappearance 

 of organs that serve a temporary purpose takes place 

 at the same period of growth. The races of men, 

 when pure, are readily distinguished by peculiarities 

 in complexion, features, and general organization. 



The Jews and the gypsies have been cited as illus- 

 trations of the hereditary transmission of the peculi- 

 arities of a race, as they do not intermarry with other 

 families, and their distinguishing characteristics have 

 remained the same for centuries. 1 



The uniformity observed in the various breeds of 

 domestic animals is the result of the inheritance of 

 the characters that adapt them to the conditions under 

 which they have originated. In the improved breeds 

 advantage is taken of the hereditary transmission of 

 certain family peculiarities that have been ingrafted 

 upon those of the original breed. As the origin and 

 development of these improved characters have no 

 relation to our present subject, they will be considered 

 in another chapter. 



In almost every breed there are favorite families, 

 that are prized by breeders for the persistence with 

 which they stamp their peculiar characters upon their 

 offspring. 



The breeders of sheep will call to mind the influ- 

 ence of the Ellman and the Webb sorts in the im- 

 provement of the Southdowns, and of the Dishley 

 family in the development of the Leicesters. 



The different cabanas of merino sheep in Spain, 



1 " Heredity," by Ribot, pp. 112-114 ; "Journal of the Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society," vol. xiv., p. 106 ; Goodale's " Principles of Breeding," 

 p. 23 ; Anderson's " Recreations in Agriculture," vol. i., p. 71. 



