RELATIVE INFLUENCE OF THE PARENTS. 77 



neighs. The why and wherefore of this is a perfect 

 mystery until we come to apply the knowledge aiforded 

 us by the law before given. The male gives the loco- 

 motive organs, and the muscles are amongst these ; 

 the muscles are the organs which modulate the voice 

 of the animal ; the mule has the muscular structure 

 of its sire, and brays ; the hinny has the muscular 

 structure of its sire, and neighs." 



In connexion with these examples Mr. Orton refers 

 to a special feature seen equally in the two instances, 

 and which seems at first sight, a departure from the 

 principle laid down by him. It is this, both hybrids, 

 the mule and the hinny take after the male parents in 

 all their external characters save one, which is size. 

 In this respect they both follow the female parents, the 

 male being in all respects a larger and finer animal than 

 its sire, the ass ; the hinny being in all respects a smaller 

 and inferior animal to its sire, the horse, the body and 

 barrel of the mule being large and round, those of the 

 hinny being flat and narrow ; both animals being in 

 these particulars the reverse of their respective sires, 

 but both resembling their female parents. 



In explanation of this seeming exception is adduced 

 a well known princij^le in physiology, which is, that the 

 whole bony framework is moulded in adaptation to the 

 softer structures immediately related to it ; the muscles 



