226 SELECTION. Chap. XXI. 



have attempted to show in the fourteenth chapter that this 

 belief apparently resolves itself into the following proposition, 

 namely, that all characters whatever, whether recently 

 acquired or ancient, tend to be transmitted, but that those 

 which have already long withstood all counteracting in- 

 fluences, will, as a general rule, continue to withstand them, 

 and consequently be faithfully transmitted. 



Tendency in Man to carry the practice of Selection to an extreme 



point. 



It is an important principle that in the process of selection 

 man almost invariably wishes to go to an extreme point. 

 Thus, there is no limit to his desire to breed certain kinds of 

 horses and dogs as fleet as possible, and others as strong as 

 possible ; certain kinds of sheep for extreme fineness, and 

 others for extreme length of wool ; and he wishes to produce 

 fruit, grain, tubers, and other useful parts of plants, as large 

 and excellent as possible. With animals bred for amusement, 

 the same principle is even more powerful ; for fashion, as we see 

 in our dress, always runs to extremes. This view has been 

 expressly admitted by fanciers. Instances were given in the 

 chapters on the pigeon, but here is another : Mr. Eaton, after 

 describing a comparatively new variety, namely, the Arch- 

 angel, remarks, " What fanciers intend doing with this bird 

 " I am at a loss to know, Avhether they intend to breed it 

 " down to the tumbler's head and beak, or carry it out to the 

 " carrier's head and beak ; leaving it as they found it, is not 

 " progressing." Ferguson, speaking of fowls, says, " their 

 •' peculiarities, whatever they may be, must necessarily be 

 " fully developed : a little peculiarity forms nought but 

 •• ugliness, seeing it violates the existing laws of symmetry." 

 So Mr. Brent, in discussing the merits of the sub-varieties of 

 the Belgian canary-bird, remarks, " Fanciers always go to 

 " extremes ; they do not admire indefinite properties." 58 



This principle, which necessarily leads to divergence of 

 character, explains the present state of various domestic 



58 J. M. Eaton, 'A Treatise on Mr. Brent, in 'Cottage Gardener,' 

 Fancy Pigeons,' p. 82 ; Ferguson, on Oct. 18(50, p. 13. 

 • f»are and Prize Poultry,' p. 162; 



