118 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



born with two teeth already protruded) ; with the Gayal, 

 (Bos Gayceus) ; and with the grunting ox (Bos Pce- 

 phagus). 



Finally, let one more instance be named from among 

 the Rodentia, where the hare and rabbit of Europe, 

 and the variable hare of America, produce a continued 

 progeny ; more particularly when the hybrids are 

 again crossed with one or other of the pure species a 

 condition likewise the case with all the foregoing. 



Those who, in the eagerness of defending a dogma, 

 have erroneously assumed, that the conditions of hy- 

 bridism, among animals in a state of nature, were well 

 understood, have likewise asserted, that they were con- 

 fined to domesticated animals, or at most, to cases 

 where one of the parents was domesticated ; and there- 

 fore, in all cases, formed vitiated, degraded, and excep- 

 tional instances, should likewise have reflected, when 

 the question is raised respecting the specific distinctions 

 of Man, that if his influence be thus powerful upon the 

 brute creation, it should not be denied to be still more 

 efficient between the species of his own genus, where 

 the degradations inflicted by slavery, and the corrup- 

 tion of so many varied institutions, have an empire 

 independent of climate and food in much more durable 

 operation. 



Enough, we deem, has been said, to satisfy the reader 

 of the exceptional character of the definition above 

 quoted, and therefore, that it is not one to be assumed, 

 with confidence, on the question of the typical forms 

 of Man. 



