140 A NEW THEORY OF EVOLUTION. 



existence for many generations, but recent 

 experience in breeding the pony in England 

 negatives this assumption. 



A stud of Shetland ponies was established 

 in 1882 at Holinside Old Hall Farm, near 

 Chester-le-Street, and its manager, writing 

 in 1898, reports that the "tendency [in 

 height] is downwards, in fact of recent years 

 decidedly downwards," and the herd-book of 

 the breed confirms this statement. 



The experience in breeding the pony under 

 changed and more favourable conditions 

 throws some light on the limits of develop- 

 ment, and approximately on the amount of 

 oscillation round the average type. 



Before the pony attracted attention by its 

 diminutive size, the Shetland farmers bred 

 with an eye to increase the height, to make 

 the animal more serviceable as a beast of 

 burden ; but when the pony came to be 

 used in the Durham collieries, the breeders 

 sought to dimmish the height and selected 

 the smallest sires. By this selective breed- 

 ing the average height of the pony, as the 

 herd -book shows, has been reduced about 

 three inches say seven per cent. The 

 decrease in height must be due solely to 

 selection, for better food and greater comfort 

 in their southern quarters than in their 



