102 ETON NATURE-STUDY 



FERAL ANIMALS. 



Another field of investigation that may be recommended to 

 the country dweller who is fortunate enough to possess the 

 necessary requirements, will include "feral" animals. It is a 

 matter of common belief that if domestic animals are turned loose 

 to look after themselves, they will in a few generations either 

 perish or revert more or less to the wild ancestral type. Accurate 

 investigations, however, as to the time required for these changes, 

 and as to how much the structure, as well as the marking, colouring, 

 and so forth, becomes altered, are almost entirely wanting. Many 

 interesting experiments suggest themselves, for instance, the turn- 

 ing loose of lop-eared and piebald rabbits, and of coloured rats, in 

 places where they could revert to the wild state. In some cases 

 it would be possible to experiment with larger animals, such as 

 goats, sheep, and swine.* The nature student who takes up this 

 line of investigation will find that he has almost the entire field to 

 himself. 



Experiments are also needed to throw light upon the possibilities 

 which exist for producing animal hybrids, now that Prof. J. C. 

 Ewart of Edinburgh, by his admirable work, has paved the way for 

 future investigations. 



It is to be hoped that the suggestions set forth in this chapter 

 may especially appeal to those whose inclinations lean towards an 

 agricultural and open-air life. 



* In the New Forest there are " feral " swine which do not appear to have reverted. 



