THE STANDPOINT OF BIOLOGISTS. 35 



if he spends his money in one direction, will thereby 

 have less for another purpose. In this way a 

 big leg may be obtained at the expense of a small 

 arm, or a good ear be the cause of an indifferent 

 eye. 



When we turn to the question of the supposed 

 transmission of acquired instincts and habits, we find 

 that it is possible by means of the principle of selection, 

 to explain some, at least, of the cases which presented 

 difficulties to Darwin's mind. Thus the tameness of 

 rabbits, cats, and dogs, which animals have for count- 

 less generations been subjected to domestication, 

 need not necessarily be accounted for by supposing 

 that the results of training are transmitted. For it is 

 easy to understand how those that would have re- 

 belled most against man's authority, and who were by 

 nature the least tractable, would have been less cared 

 for by man, and probably would finally have suffered 

 extermination, while the docile received his attention, 

 and were allowed to reach maturity and perpetuate 

 the race. That this selection must be going on at 

 the present time is very obvious, and as instances we 

 may note the savage dogs that are constantly being 

 destroyed, and the house dogs and domestic pets that 

 are, in most cases, continually being selected from 

 the docile animals and those of good temper. A dog 

 that does not possess these good qualities can have 

 no existence in town or village, and so by continual 



