OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. 435 



the climate than the coarser and rarer textures which are 

 seen in warm countries. The thick fleece of the dogs lately 

 brought from Baffin's Bay exemplifies this observation very 

 completely. The wool of the sheep degenerates into a 

 coarse hair in Africa ; where we meet also with dogs quite 

 naked, with a smooth and soft skin. 



Whether the goat, furnishing the wool from which the 

 shawls of Cashmere are manufactured, is of the same species 

 with that domesticated in Europe, and whether the prodi- 

 gious difference between the hairy growth of the two ani- 

 mals is due to diversity of climate, are points at present un- 

 certain. Neither do we know whether the long and silky 

 coat of the goat, cat, sheep, and rabbits of Angora can be 

 accounted for by the operation of this cause : it is at least 

 worthy of notice, that this quality of the hair should exist in 

 so many animals of the same country. It continues when 

 they are removed into other situations, and is transmitted to 

 the ofl^spring ; so that we may, probably, regard these as per- 

 manent breeds. 



It is well known that the qualities of the horse are inferior 

 in France to those of neighbouring countries. According 

 to BuFFON, Spanish or Barbary horses, when the breed is 

 not crossed, become French horses sometimes in the second 

 generation, and always in the third *. Since the climate of 

 England, which certainly does not approach more nearly to 

 that of the original abode of this animal than that of France, 

 does not impede the developement of its finest forms and 

 most excellent qualities, we may, perhaps, with greater pro- 

 bability, refer the degeneracy of the French horses to ne- 

 glect of the breed. We know that the greatest attention to 

 this point is necessary, in order to prevent deterioration in 

 form and spirit. 



Diff'erences in food might be naturally expected to pro- 

 duce considerable corresponding modifications in the ani- 

 mal body. Singing birds, chiefly of the lark and finch 

 kinds, are known to become gradually black, if they are fed 



* V. iv. p. 106. 



F F 2 



