4 -j VERTEBRATA. 



known to the ancients, and large breeds of them are fonnd in Hungary and Sweden. In some, 

 . the hoof is divided into five clefts. In Guinea, they have long ears couched upon the bark; 

 in China, a large pendent belly and very short legs; at Cape Verd and other places, very large 

 curved tusks. Thus, then, in one species we find changes even greater than those which occur 

 among men; and as to the most important, Blumenbach says that the whole difference between 

 the cranium of the negro and that of a European is by no means greater than that which exists 

 between the cranium of the wild-boar and that of the domestic swine. An examination of the 

 different breeds of sheep, horses, oxen, goats, cats, rabbits, doves, and still more of the dom< 

 fowl, would in like manner show that all these species, even while under observation, are subject 

 to greater variations than arc found in the different races of men. The various breeds of dogs are 

 believed to have all descended from one parent stock ; yet what greater diversity is there in the 

 tribes of mankind than in these animals, from the robust and adventurous Newfoundland dog to 

 the soft and silken lap-dog ? 



In respect of color, a perfect analogy holds between the varieties of domestic animals and those 

 of men. In all those enumerated above, examples occur of the melanocomous, leucous, and 

 xanthous varieties springing up casually or existing constantly in particular breeds. Thus even 

 in England the cattle of different counties may be recognized by their color as well as by their 

 form-. Azara remarks of the oxen and horses of Paraguay, where both species have run wild 

 and multiplied very rapidly, that while all those that are domesticated vary considerably in color, 

 those that are wild have all the same color; — the horses a chestnut or bay-brown; the oxen red- 

 disb-brown on the back, and black on the rest of the body. 



This analogy between the variations to which domesticated, and more rarely wild animals, are 

 subject, and those which are observed in men, is a strong argument for the unity of the human 

 species Another, which possesses much weight, is drawn from the propagation of the several 

 races. It is well known that among all other animals, the hybrid productions of parents of differ- 

 ent species are either quite barren, or so little prolific that they soon become extinct, and that an 

 intermediate race cannot be maintained even to the second generation without a return to the 

 [Hire blood of one or other parent. On the other hand, it is observed among domestic animals 

 that the progeny of different varieties of the same species exceed in vigor, and are even more 

 prolific than their parents; so that intermediate races are apt very soon to become more numer- 

 bhan the originals from whence they sprung. It is asserted that exactly the same principle 

 holds in the human race. All nations, it is said, propagate together with equal facility, and it is 

 contended that the progeny of parents of different nations have in many instances exceeded those 

 from whom they sprung in vigor and in the tendency to multiplication. 



What may be the precise nature of the influences which have caused so much difference to 

 exist between the individuals of the human race, we are unable to say; but instances are con- 

 stanilv occurring which seem to show us how possible it is that all the varieties of human beings 

 have occurred in a common family. It is remarked, by high English authority, that "even among 

 the races of our own island, when exposed to circumstances which deprive them of their usual 

 nutriment and means of developing the civilizing instincts of mankind, we find that they sink in 

 character, and become physically degraded to a level with races whose features at first sight are 

 very far removed. We need but to travel across the Irish Channel to see many groups of our 

 I llow-subjecta who have been redu 1 by famine and disease to a degraded condition 



sely bordering on that of these savages." 



though the color of the skin and the character of the hair give so very decided an appearance 

 to many of the rai ■ a of man, yet, as before remarked, there are on record a great number of cases 

 in which individuals, with hair and skin of one color, have given birch to children with hair and 

 skin of another color and character. Dr. Prichard mentions numerous instances of individuals 

 with yellow hair and fair skin, among tribe- w it 1 1 dark hair and skin ; and in the temperate regions 

 , evidently descended from dark-colored races, present the light color. The 

 - appear to have been originally a dark-skinned and woollv-haired race; but ft is well known 

 that the -1 - of Europe very frequently possess the characteristics of the lightest-colored races. 

 < Mi the other hand, we constantly see individuals born of white parents having woolly hair, a 



