ACQUIRED INSTINCTS BECOMING HEREDITARY. 123 



not transmitted to the offspring, when they are entirely wanting 

 in relationship to the natural condition of the animal. Thus, by 

 a long and laborious training, a Pig has been taught to point 

 game ; but there is no reason to believe that a breed of Pointer 

 Pigs could be established. 



110. The following examples will show the influence of 

 climate, and other circumstances affecting the bodily constitution, 

 in modifying the character of a race. It is well known that the 

 Spaniards, when they first invaded America, introduced a large 

 number of blood-hounds ; which had been previously trained to 

 hunt stags, but were then directed by these savage (though pro- 

 fessedly civilized) conquerors against their fellow-men. Similar 

 dogs have been since employed in the West Indian Islands, 

 and in Florida ; and, by a most disgusting kind of education, 

 have been taught to distinguish and pursue the black and 

 coloured races, without showing any animosity towards white 

 men. Now of the descendants of the original stock, a consider- 

 able portion have degenerated, under the influence of insufficient 

 nourishment, admixture with other races, &c. But among some 

 of these, new instincts have sprung up, conformable to their 

 altered circumstances, and have become hereditary. Thus, on 

 the banks of the Magdalena, they are employed in hunting the 

 white-lipped Pecari, which associate in herds, and require a 

 peculiar mode of attack. The address of these dogs consists in 

 restraining their ardour, and attaching themselves to no animal 

 in particular, but keeping the whole herd in check. Now among 

 these dogs, some are found, which, the very first time they are 

 taken into the woods, show themselves to be acquainted with 

 this mode of attack ; whereas, a dog of another breed starts 

 forward at once, is surrounded by the Pecari, and, whatever 

 may be his strength, is destroyed in a moment. Some English- 

 men, who were engaged in conducting the operations of the 

 Real del Monte Company in Mexico, carried out with them some 

 Greyhounds of the best breed, to hunt the hares which abound 

 in that country. The great platform which is the scene of the 

 sport, is at an elevation of about 9000 feet above the level of the 

 sea ; and the mercury in the barometer stands habitually at the 



