196 SELECTION. Chap. XX. 



word, but leading to the same general result. The influence 

 of the destruction of individuals having a particular character 

 is well shown by the necessity of killing every lamb with a 

 trace of black about it, in order to keep the flock white ; or 

 again, by the effects on the average height of the men of 

 France of the destructive wars of Napoleon, by which many 

 tall men were killed, the short ones being left to be the 

 fathers of families. This at least is the conclusion of some of 

 those who have closely studied the effects of the conscription; 

 and it is certain that since Napoleon's time the standard for 

 the army has been lowered two or three times. 



Unconscious selection blends with methodical, so that it is 

 scarcely possible to separate them. When a fancier long ago 

 first happened to notice a pigeon with an unusually short 

 beak, or one with the tail-feathers unusually developed, 

 although he bred from these birds with the distinct intention 

 of propagating the variety, yet he could not have intended to 

 make a short-faced tumbler or a fantail, and was far from know- 

 ing that he had made the first step towards this end. If he 

 could have seen the final result, he would have been struck 

 with astonishment, but, from what we know of the habits of 

 fanciers, probably not with admiration. Our English carriers, 

 barbs, and short-faced tumblers have been greatly modified in 

 the same manner, as we may infer both from the historical 

 evidence given in the chapters on the Pigeon, and from the 

 comparison of birds brought from distant countries. 



So it has been with dogs ; our present fox-hounds differ 

 from the old English hound ; our greyhounds have become 

 lighter : the Scotch deer-hound has been modified, and is now 

 rare. Our bulldogs differ from those which were formerly 

 used for baiting bulls. Our pointers and Newfoundlands do 

 not closely resemble anj r native dog now found in the countries 

 whence they were brought. These changes have been effected 

 partly by crosses ; but in every case the result has been 

 governed by the strictest selection. Nevertheless, there is no 

 reason to suppose that man intentionally and methodically 

 made the breeds exactly what they now are. As our horses 

 became fleeter, and the country more cultivated and smoother, 

 fleeter fox-hounds were desired and produced, but probably 



