^g6 History of the Author's 



this opinion, whether as referable to climate, food, or habits of travelling, was 

 founded on nothing better than mere prejudice. My conclusion was derived both 

 from analogy and direct experience. ' While the skin and hair of the Negro and 

 Gypsey in England remain unchanged, the latter through centuries, from what they 

 originally were in Africa, Hindostan, or Malacca, those of the North American 

 and V/est Indian, of European descent, continue similar to those of their native 

 country. The form and feathers of the Turkey and domestic fowl are just such 

 as they formerly were, and now are, in North America and Asia. The Arabian 

 stallion delivers down his most vaunted excellences to his progeny, through our na- 

 tive mares. These circumstances take place in spite of all the' changes of climate, 

 food, and general habits of life. 



On the other hand, the Finlander and Laplander, contiguous inhabitants of the 

 northern parts of Sv/eden, continue, to this day, two distinct varieties of the human 



race. 



With regard to sheep themselves, the fineness and weight of fleece are by no 

 means relative to the climate, soil, quantity or quality of food, size, or habits of life. 

 The breed of Portland, though one of the smallest in Great Britain, and living on 

 bare, natural pasture, in a temperate climate, yields, as I have before observed, a 

 small fleece of the coarsest clothing wool. So also the sheep on the cold mountains of 

 Wales. On the other hand, the Merino breed, inhabiting in Spain a climate much 

 warmer than those just mentioned, has the finest fleece in the world, and, probably, 

 the heaviest of short wool in proportion to the weight of the animal producing it. 

 I have already shewn that in the time of the ancient Romans, the sheep of the 

 southern part of Italy, which were greatly valued, cultivated with the utnrvDst care, 

 and continually kept in small inclosures, or even in stables, afforded the very finest 

 wool ; while another breed of sheep in the same neighbourhood, which then took, 

 and at this day take, regular annual journies of two or three hundred miles to the 

 Appenines, yielded, and continue to yield, fleeces of a much coarser filament. The 

 reader, who would wish to see many additional arguments to this effect, may consult 

 my treatise, already mentioned, and the various works of Dr. Anderson. From 

 them he will find great reason to conclude, that the powers attributed to these 

 various causes, as of the heat of the West Indies to change sheep's wool into hair, 

 are visionary ; and that, in any country, if care be taken to prevent a particular 

 variety of animals from mingling with its neighbouring variety, the peculiarities of 



