498 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



the forehead becomes prominent, giving the physiognomy of the 

 animal an ugly, vaulted appearance. The snout at the same time 

 becomes long and prominent, increasing the inside surface for the 

 distribution of the nerves of smell. The body becomes clothed 

 with a thick, soft hair, and the legs so elongated that the animal 

 has very considerable speed, and travels quite conveniently. 



Now these are the characteristics of " degeneration," and yet 

 we have seen that every one of them serves a useful purpose. The 

 fine breeds of swine, as they are called, in the same circumstances, 

 would perish of starvation, while all that has prevented the na- 

 tive breed from becoming wild under these circumstances, is the 

 occurrence every two or three years of deep snows and few beech- 

 nuts. In the same way we might follow up the origin of those 

 peculiarities in domestic animals that are regarded as " degenera- 

 tion," and we should always find them to originate in adaptation. 

 There is no such thing as degeneration. What are your models, 

 O man ! that you should compare the works of Eternal Wisdom 

 to them and j^ronounce judgment! 



There is an idea too prevalent in those tliat have the manage- 

 ment of domestic animals, that their condition depends on some 

 occult circumstances, rather than on their food. Those who keep 

 their stock most niggardly are those who look with most expec- 

 tation for some new and wonderful breed, that, like the fabled 

 chameleon, shall live on air. Drivers are always feeding as much 

 " condition powder," of some sort, as will lie on a dime every 

 night, and credulously looking for its wonderful effects. In the 

 language of a plain, common sense old farmer, to whom I am in- 

 debted for the first rudiments of agricultural science : " The 

 best curry comb for a horse is the oats he leaves in his manger; 

 rub his hair with them, and it will always shine." 



Buffon asserted that the American climate was inimical to the 

 constitution of man and other European animals. Dr. Knox, of 

 London, has lately reiterated the same idea in connection with 

 his theory of the perpetuity of races only in their original locali- 

 ties; the rankest form the theory of climatal influences has yet 

 taken. He even pa3's us Americans the compliment to class us 

 with hybrids, and seriously announces to us the fact that we shall 



