290 PRINCIPLES OF STOCK-BREEDING. 



acter, and no malformed animal loses its generic dis- 

 tinction. It is therefore justly observed by Som- 

 mering that Nature does not deviate ad injwitum, 

 and that even in monstrosities a distinct gradation 

 and natural order are observable. 



" This order appears even 1. In the number in 

 which they occur within a certain space of time. * In 

 three thousand births in Paris there occurs about one 

 monster. 



" 2. In the sex. In impeded development the 

 malformed children are more frequently female, in 

 some sorts of double monsters, male. 



"3. In a definite proportion between the species 

 of animals, and the most frequent 'monstrosities in 

 them. Cyclops, 1 for instance, especially with a snout, 

 occur most frequently in swine ; double monsters in 

 man. 



" 4. In the constant form of monsters, even among 

 the most heterogeneous animals. Cyclopia, double 

 monsters, acrania, 2 have in birds precisely the same 

 characters as in the mammalia. 



" 5. In the greater predisposition to monstrosity 

 among some animals. This is greater among domes- 

 tic than among wild animals ; greater among the more 

 perfect than among the less perfect ; three-fourths of 

 the monstrosities occur among the mammalia, one- 

 fourth among birds. They happen seldom among 

 reptilia, still less frequently among fishes, mollusca, 

 articulata, and radiata." 



"From these premises the consequence is easily 



1 Monsters with one eye. 



2 Headless monsters. 





