296 THE LURE OF THE LAND 



the formation of the Mauchamp breed. In the year 

 1828 a Merino ram lamb was born in France which 

 was remarkable for its long, smooth, straight, and silky 

 wool. 



In 1833 M. Graux, the owner of the lamb, had raised 

 enough to serve his whole flock, and in a few years 

 more he was able to sell stock of his new breed. The 

 wool is regarded so highly that it brings 25 per cent, 

 more in the market than the best pure Merino. 



Variation also frequently manifests itself by produc- 

 ing changes in the functions of the animal's body or 

 some of its parts. These changes are mostly due to 

 climate influences. 



The Egyptian goose brought to France in 1841 by 

 Geoffroy St. Hilaire, according to Quatrefages, is a 

 striking example of this. " At first this bird laid its 

 eggs in December, as in its native country. It raised 

 its brood in the depth of winter, and, consequently, un- 

 der very unfavorable circumstances. In 1844 the birds 

 began to lay in February; in 1845 in March, and in 

 1846 in April, at the same time as the native goose." 

 Sometimes instead of climate other forces are active in 

 producing similar results. The same author states that 

 " the wild sow litters but once a year and with only six 

 or eight young, but when domesticated litters twice a 

 year with from ten to fifteen pigs. The fecundity of the 

 Indian pig is seven times as great under domestication 

 as in a wild state." 



On the other hand, there are some animals which ap- 

 pear to be less fruitful when tamed than when in the 

 wild state. 



I will not multiply these examples further. Those 

 who feel like pursuing the subject will find abundance 

 of material, collected from many classes of animals and 



