144 THE HISTORY OF CREATION. 
an entirely distinct “good species,” but even as species of 
entirely different genera of the Leporid family. Not only 
does the colour, length of hair, and other qualities of the fur 
of the different tame races of rabbits vary exceedingly, and 
form extremely broad contrasts, but, what is still more im- 
portant, the typical form of the skeleton and its individual 
parts do so also, especially the form of the skull and the 
jaw (which is of such importance in systematic arrange- 
ment) ; further, the relative proportion of the length of the 
ears, legs, ete. In all these respects the races of tame rabbits. 
avowedly differ from one another far more than all the dif- 
ferent forms of wild rabbits and hares which are scattered 
over all the earth, and are the recognized “good species” of 
the genus Lepus. And yet, in the face of these clear facts, the 
opponents of the theory of development maintain that the 
wild species are not descended from a common prototype, 
although they at once admit it in the case of the tame 
races. With opponents who so intentionally close their 
eyes against the clear light of truth, no further dispute can 
be carried on. 
While in this manner it appears certain that the domestic 
races of pigeons, .of tame rabbits, of horses, etc., notwith- 
standing the remarkable difference of their varieties, are 
descended in each case from but one wild, so-called 
“species”; yet, on the other hand, it is certainly probable 
that the great variety of races of some of the domestic ani- 
mals, especially dogs, pigs, and oxen, must be ascribed to 
the existence of several wild prototypes, which have become 
mixed. It is, however, to be observed that the number of 
these originally wild primary species is always much 
smaller than that of the cultivated forms proceeding from 
