LAW OF VARIATION. 49 



A small flock of ewes, belonging to Dr. W. Wells in 

 the island of Grenada, were served by a ram procured 

 for the purpose ; — the ewes were all white and woolly ; 

 the ram was quite different, — of a chocolate color, and 

 hairy like a goat. The progeny were of course crosses 

 but bore a strong resemblance to the male parent. The 

 next season. Dr. Wells obtained a ram of precisely the 

 same breed as the ewes, but the progeny showed dis- 

 tinct marks of resemblance to the former ram, in color 

 and covering. The same thing occurred on neighbor- 

 ing estates under like circumstances. 



Six very superior pure-bred black-faced horned ewes, 

 belonging to Mr. H. Shaw of Leochel-Cushnie, were 

 served by a Leicester ram, (white-faced and hornless.) 

 The lambs were crosses. The next year they were 

 served by a ram of exactly the same breed as the ewes 

 themselves. To Mr. Shaw's astonishment the lambs 

 were without an exception hornless and brownish in 

 the face, instead of being black and horned. The third 

 year (1846) they were again served by a superior ram 

 of their own breed, and again the lambs were mongrels, 

 but showed less of the Leicester characteristics than 

 before. Mr. Shaw at last parted from these fine ewes 

 without obtaining a single pure-bred lamb.* 



* Journal of Medical Science, 1850. 



