66 THE BOOK OF ROSES, 



series ; and insisting upon superficial character, 

 or aspect, as a sufficient motive for the sepa- 

 ration of species. 



Nothing can be more deceptive than such 

 distinctions. We have already entered minutely 

 into the fallacies arising from the establishment 

 of species on specific character ; let us now con- 

 sider what reliance is to be placed on aspect, or 

 appearance. 



There is certainly more external difference 

 between a pug-dog with short legs and flat 

 nose, and the greyhound with pointed nose and 

 long legs, than between the mastiff and the 

 wolf, the wolf-dog and the fox, the grey- 

 hound and the jackal. There is more difference 

 between a delicate lady's lap-dog and a huge 

 Danish carriage-dog, which is as large as a 

 calf, between the naked-skinned Turkish dog 

 and the long-haired silky spaniel, than be- 

 tween the ass and the horse, the leopard and 

 the panther. 



Yet the pug-dog, the greyhound, the spaniel, 

 the Turkish dog, and the Danish, are all indi- 

 viduals of the same species, and produce by 

 inter-alliance offspring capable of reproduc- 

 tion. Whereas, the mastiff and wolf, wolf-dog 

 and fox, ass and horse, leopard and panther, 

 produce only mules, or barren offspring ; nor 

 does their union ever take place in a state 

 of nature. 



