76 IMPROVEMENT OF THK BEEEDB. 



spring will thrive, proving large and vigorous, and every 

 way worthy of being placed at the head of its species. 

 These are, however, cases where the transition is from 

 an extreme of heat or cold to a temperate atmosphere. 

 Witness what Mr Dawson, the manager of the Aus- 

 tralian Agricultural Company, says in his private jour- 

 nal (quoted in Cunningham's New South Wales), 

 *' Both the climate and the soil appear by nature in- 

 tended to produce fine wool, and fine animals too, even 

 from the worst beginnings. The latter seems a para- ^ 

 dox. The extensive range afforded to every animal 

 keeps it in good condition, and, perhaps, the natural 

 grasses may have more of good in them than their 

 appearance indicates. However this may be, the cli- 

 mate clearly has a wonderful effect on the size of all 

 animals, even upon man, who is universally tall here, 

 though born of diminutive parents. From this I am 

 led to believe, that the climate governs chiefly, and 

 thus every breeding animal introduced here will attain 

 a size not known in Europe." 



(71.) Extent of the Alterations produced by Cli- 

 mate, — Changes occasioned by climate are always 

 limited to the fleece, horns, and disposal of the fat, and 

 never extend to those parts, on the permanence of which 

 the animal depends for its station in the scale of being, 

 as the feet, teeth, and digestive organs. In tropical 

 countries we find the fleece approaching more to hair 

 than wool, as in the sheep of Thibet, so celebrated for 

 the silky nature of their coat. Burchell remarks, 

 that the skins he brought from the Cape of Good Hope 

 were often taken for those of an unknown quadruped, 

 from the furry nature of their wool, if such it can be 



