1 84 LIFE AND HABIT. 



effects of the long continued exposure of the parent to 

 injurious conditions a.re sometimes transmitted to the 

 offspring." As regards impressions of a less striking 

 character, it is so universally admitted that they are not 

 observed to be repeated in what is called the offspring, 

 until they have been confirmed in what is called the 

 parent, for several generations, but that after several 

 generations, more or fewer as the case may be, they 

 often are transmitted — that it seems unnecessary to 

 say more upon the matter. Perhaps, however, the 

 following passage from Mr. Darwin may be admitted 

 as conclusive : — 



" That they " (acquired actions) " are inherited, we see 

 with horses in certain transmitted paces, such as can- 

 tering and ambling, which are not natural to them — in 

 the pointing of young pointers, and the setting of young 

 setters — in the peculiar manner of flight of certain 

 breeds of the pigeon, &c. We have analogous cases 

 with mankind in the inheritance of tricks or unusual 

 gestures." ....(" Expression of the Emotions," p. 29). 

 In another place Mr. Darwin writes : — 

 " How again can we explain the inherited effects of the 

 use or disuse of particular organs ? The domesticated 

 duck flies less and walks more than the wild duck, and 

 its limb bones have become diminished and increased 

 in a corresponding manner in comparison with those of 

 the wild duck. A horse is trained to certain paces, and 

 the colt inherits similar consensual movements. The 

 domesticated rabbit becomes tame from close confine- 

 ment; the dog intelligent from associating with man; 

 the retriever is taught to fetch and carry; and these 



