394 GENERATION. SECT. XXXIX. 4 . 8. 



Secondly, when we think over the great changes introduced in- 

 to various animals by artificial or acciden talc ultivation, as inhorfes 

 which we have exercifed for the different purpofes of ftrength or 

 fwiftnefs, in carrying burthens or in running races ; or in dogs, 

 which have been cultivated for ftrength and courage, as the bull- 

 dog ; or for acutenefs of his fenfe of frnell> as the hound and 

 fpaniel -, or for the fwiftnefs of his foot, as the greyhound ; or for 

 his fwimming in the water, or for drawing fnow-fledges, as the 

 rough-haired dogs of the north ; or laftly, as a play dog for 

 children, as the lap-dog ; with the changes of the forms of the 

 cattle, which have been domefticated from the greateft antiquity, 

 as camels, and fheep ; which have undergone fo total a transfor- 

 mation, that we are now ignorant from what fpecies of wild an- 

 imals they had their origin. Add to'thefe the great changes of 

 fhape and colour, which we daily fee produced in fmaller ani- 

 mals from our domefiication of them, as rabbits, or pigeons ; or 

 from the difference of climates and even of feafons ; thus the 

 iheep of warm climates are covered with hair inflead of wool ; 

 and the hares and partridges of the latitudes, which are long buri- 

 ed in fnow, become white during the winter months ; add to 

 thefe the various changes produced in the forms of mankind, by 

 their early modes of exertion , or by the difeafes occasioned by 

 their habits of life ; both of which became hereditary, and that 

 through many generations. Thofe who labour at the anvil, the 

 oar, or the loom, as well as thofe who carry fedan-chairs, or who 

 have been educated to dance upon the rope, are diftinguiftiable 

 by the fhape of their limbs ; and the difeafes occafioned by in- 

 toxication deform the countenance with leprous eruptions, or the 

 body with tumid vifcera, or the joints with knots and diftortions. 



Thirdly, when we enumerate the great changes produced in 

 the fpecies of animals before their nativity ; thefe are fuch as 

 refemble the form or colour of their parents, which have been 

 altered by the cultivation or accidents above related, and are 

 thus continued to their pofterity. Or they are changes produ- 

 ced by the mixture of fpecies as in mules ; or changes produced 

 probably by the exuberance of nourifhment fupplied to the fe- 

 tus, as in monftrous births with additional limbs ; many of thefe 

 enormities of fhape are propagated, and continued as a variety 

 at leaft, if not as a new fpecies of animal. I have feen a breed 

 of cats with > an additional claw on every foot: ; of poultry alfo 

 with an additional claw, and with wings to their feet ; and of 

 others without rumps. Mr. Buffon mentions a breed N of dogs 

 without tails, which are common at Rome and at Naples, which 

 he fuppofes to have been produced by a cuftom long eflablifhed 

 of cutting their tails clofe cfF. There are many kinds of pigeons, 



admired 



